Three things are inevitable in each and every round of competition. Some teams will win, some teams will lose and fans will argue with each other.
This weekend it was the turn of the Sharks, Raiders and Knights to argue among themselves and each other.
Every week, the main topic of argument seems to be whether or not placing criticism upon your team makes you a ‘bad fan’ or worse, a ‘fairweather’.
Yesterday, the Raiders were battered from pillar to post by a rampant Warriors side, meaning the former Green Machine will now have to beat the Sharks to avoid the wooden spoon.
Fans were quick to label blame for the team’s disastrous season on under fire coach Ricky Stuart and captain Terry Campese.
Other fans condemned the criticism and labelled those speaking ill of their club and were quick to post their support despite the horror run of results.
Over at the Sharks, who looked like certainties to finish last until the Raiders forgot how to play football, fans have been at each other since their Round 2 loss to the Dogs.
Personally, I don’t see constructive criticism as turning your back on your team. In fact I tend to lean towards thinking that by sitting back and accepting that failure is ok, you’re not showing enough support for your team.
Every fan of every team, in any sport, anywhere, wants their team to do well. This is professional rugby league and not under 8s.
Sometimes there are circumstances, such as injury, that mean a team simply cannot perform to its peak. However each and every side should be striving to improve. Whether that be through personal changes, recruitment, or something else, they have an obligation to do so.
I for one am growing a little tired of hearing people who speak the truth about their club, being labelled ‘bad fans’. That’s correct, I am whining about people whining about fans whining.
Fans sometimes pay a lot of money to support their sides, and they have every right to expect success. Sometimes that simply isn’t possible, but I totally understand the frustration.
That being said, some of the personal attacks I saw yesterday on social media were wrong, and downright cruel.
I do not wish injury upon anyone, and I certainly don’t celebrate when a player does go down hurt. Some people yesterday were openly hoping one of their underperforming players would be injured and therefore lead to a change in personnel.
Walking away from your team when they’re not performing makes you a bad fan. Speaking ill of them when it is deserved, does not. Personal attacks, including tagging individual players on Twitter to criticise makes you not only a bad fan, but a bad person.
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