It’s been a polarising week of prominent dudes done wrong. A hairy and half-naked Merv Hughes offended campers in the African jungle, John Travolta creeped out Hollywood with his slinky hands and weird uncle kisses, and Glenn McGrath’s gun love was embarrassingly laid bare.
Their conduct sparked varying degrees of debate. Where does their behaviour fit in this label-dependent modern world? Is it the work of harmless weirdos in need of a moral software upgrade? Or is it the anachronistic practices of a couple of dinosaurs still existing in the olden times? So many questions.
After deep introspection, we eventually left it to the experts. In the end though, I believe we all agreed on one thing: these were the actions of three jokers who simply haven’t moved with the times.
Scale up the wrongs of Hughes, Travolta and McGrath by a thousand, and you have another popular entity that hasn’t grasped the new values of the modern world – rugby league. After another week of terrifically-timed turmoil, it’s proven again that while it’s a game with grand visions and good intentions, it is still prone to farting in front of strangers, making inappropriate advances and shooting shit in its spare time.
Fortunately for throwback cricketers and eccentric thespians, they can reform, subdue, or at least use the outlet of sledging or the stage role of an aggressive alcoholic. However, rugby league can not call on these things, and it has no control over itself at all, and may never. This is not good for rugby league.
As we know, the game is on a relentless pursuit for perfection, but with every spectacular self-sabotaging faux pas it produces, it becomes apparent that it possesses too many flaws to ultimately reach its dream. Why does it hate itself so much?
A popular theory is that the game is in a perpetual struggle to transition in to the professional era. They say it’s still entrenched in the behaviours of the cash-injected golden ’90s, when the pay was finally tops but the scrutiny acceptable.
This truly was a time of league nirvana, the game was flying on the paddock, the inept governance still existent from the ’80s could be supported, plus an honest footballer could still make a dirty extra-curricular buck and usually get away with it. They were the good old days to which the game is still addicted.
Nowadays, with code wars, big TV deals and unfamiliar morals, the party’s over. Times have changed.
While enjoying an on-field product that’s as high-octane as ever, the game is wrangling with itself. It’s desperate to throw off its blue-collar roots to become a sparkling product of polished professionalism, but it can’t seem to evolve. Every time it makes progress, it bursts in to a room of dignitaries off its face, shampooing its back and telling the nearest female to ‘shut up, woman’.
This week, it was more bullets in the foot, this time in Queensland – a cocaine scandal on the party strip involving a financial struggler. The only way it could be more Goldie is if it involved an outlaw motorcycle gang, a dodgy tennis coach and Warwick Capper as Dr Evil. It still may.
When this Titans furore broke on season’s eve, it disrupted the summer like a calm flight spoiled upon landing. As we do, we all assumed the familiar emergency brace position, wailed as the details came to hand and then decried another step back for rugby league.
If it’s any consolation though, this week’s incident is not the worst on a bulging wrap sheet that is pretty much indefensible. (Not a consolation).
If you were asked 10 years ago to write a list of the most absurd controversies that could occur in the game, would your wildest imagination have ever dreamt of a Joel Monaghan, Nate Myles or Todd Carney style story? If it did, please see a GP.
Now think of what might happen in the coming 10 years? Does your database of filth stretch that far? We might need some internet or World Movies to create that kinda whack.
Aahhhh, rugby league. I will always love you and want what’s best for you. But you’ve got to help yourself, and I know you won’t. Who in their right mind can deny that the game is a junkie for controversy, a beast cannibalising itself as it instinctively searches for a destructive high to outdo the last?
It is gravely apparent that bringing the game in to disrepute is embedded in the DNA and will never go away, regardless of intervention, education or punishment. So maybe we should put our arm around it and accept it for what it is?
Maybe we should stop expecting so much. Perhaps it’s time for the game to know its limitations. Is it forever destined to be consigned to its strongholds? Should we accept the majority of mums will not want their children to play the game? That the game will never be the international superpower we dream it could? That there will always be basketcase clubs, financial foolery, corrupt administrators and urine parabolas that give the game ironic global exposure and erode the good work of the do-gooding 99 per cent?
In today’s modern society, the goalposts have shifted for rugby league, but it’s not budging. I want to believe in its potential, but I doubt it will ever put on a shirt, stop making creepy eyes at the girls and just act normal.
Birdy
Guest
Yep have to agree. Reading Saturdays paper, straight to sport section I started reading, league installs one strike plan, walker stands by titans , rugby blinded by drug scourge. Then I started reading footy news. Further proof the other day Tim Prentice wrote an article on the Titans being bailed out by the NRL. Instead of writing smith honours his commitment to guarantee the survival of all 16 clubs he writes NRL desperate to save media deal by propping up the Titans again. 200 hits for the negative.
The Barry
Roar Guru
Yeah that is what I was getting at Jay C. It's the people who complain the loudest about FitzSimons or Rothfield who are able to quote their articles verbatim. The articles here about how the Broncos/ Bulldogs / Rabbitohs will go are lucky to get 15 replies. The articles about players misbehaving get hundreds. It's clear where the demand for reporting lies but then we all howl 'bloody media' when they report the off field stuff.
Chinupwombat
Guest
100% right. Suns players two years ago got off with nothing as there were bigger fish to fry. When they catch the big fish they then go after the tadpoles. They have to be seen to be doing something. Net a couple of big names, even on relatively small charges, and the funding keeps coming and they all get pats on the back. What a PR excercise.
Chinupwombat
Guest
Naivety is a blessing for some.
Chinupwombat
Guest
AFL has the advantage of having media onside willing to cover things up. Revelations this week revealed Suns players were caught up in a drug net 2 years ago. Gary Ablett (Snr), cleanskin!! Union in Australia simply does not draw the scrutiny of the two mainstream footballing codes. The truth is it is probably sitting behind soccer now in the scheme of things. I would only be able to tell you a couple of players for the Wallabies, whereas I can name nearly every player in everyside in the NRL plus a fair few QLD and NSW Cup players. Do you know if a Shute Shield player has been in trouble lately? If a QLD Cup or NSW Cup player was it would be front page. It would be naive to think on ratio that less Union or AFL players got into trouble then League players. Simple fact League sells papers and Union doesn't.
Russell Johnson
Guest
Knuckles I don't agree. I think the world needs reminding that labels are handy little images overly used in bad journalism and common currency in the stampede to attribute blame. The percentages of people involved in selling drugs and taking drugs as opposed to those who don't will vary according to a few criteria but more people don't just as more players don't. And in the world of "gotcha" poor writers, sometimes laughingly referred to as Journalists:-D It's not time to expect less just time to remember that most don't and give their all out on the paddock. But saying lots don't is hardly headline - paper selling stuff, is it? One of the saddest aspects of all this, as always with issues like this one, is that the rest of us are lost in the shuffle! And I don't agree with - "Tarnish your sport, pay the price" because RL is not tarnished by individuals unless it sits back and let's that happen. Tarnish yourself , pay the price would be a much better slogan.
Cathar Treize
Roar Guru
I've locked my self out of a hotel room on an occasion during the middle of the night. Most hotels have the bathroom entrance near the door to your room. Easy to do & Myles made a mistake and the media have made him pay for it ever since. He even tried to knock on the door of another room to use their bathroom but they refused, not knowing who a naked bloke was, fair enough, but not Myles fault. Hasn't stopped him marrying a very beautiful TV personality as she probably wasn't like the league/club/Myles haters which p0ervade society like you Marco. Luckily if you got yourself in a situation, the media wouldn't give a rats.
Cathar Treize
Roar Guru
Dave, in the last ten years II can guarantee 1 incident involving a Wallaby international would outdo any scandal in the NRL. But alas it never came out. Involves a kid, and a four wheel drive + domestic violence.
Cathar Treize
Roar Guru
Hi Russell, we indeed live in strange times :)
Col Quinn
Guest
I suppose murder, drug manufacture, company fraud, paedophilia and common assault causing actual bodily harm don't count. Every sport is a microcosm of society, there will always be people stepping outside societies boundaries. RU, RL, AFL and Soccer will always have their fair share of problem children
Knuckles
Guest
It's time to start expecting less from all the major sporting codes and their players. Drugs, behavioural, violence and other similar issues are simply a reflection of society. All too many people that the media (and commentators) project as heroes (and a few we see as grubs as well) on the field are simply (if only occasionally) immature grubs off the field. Too much money, too much time, belief in their own hype and invincibility, the lack of ability to accept personal responsibility and social ineptitude (inability to deal with real life situations like a responsible adult) are the foundation of it and poor decision making (no harm can come of me taking or doing this) is the result. The people I respect most in the sporting world are the people you never hear about "off" the field. You want to get rid of drugs in Sport, have a no strike policy, strictly enforced. Many of your best players across all codes will then have to get a real job. Tarnish your sport, pay the price
Russell Johnson
Guest
Now you've just described the american model for grossly indecent capitalism being in bed with bad Government or the History of the World since 1978, and then you threw in a few NRL's and words like game and expect us not to notice!!!! And weren't Gillard and Rudd the act that always went on just before the Crazy Gang to warm up the audience? Unfortunately this bee in the bonnet approach will only let you get it off your chest! But the article was about our expectations as far as players are concerned and not all the things we hate about the NRL hierarchy! And it's certainly not their fault if there is involvement in drugs in the sport and to be honest this would be much more related to the press for very often romanticising and lauding the kind of life style that accompanies or is accompanied by drugs! But it is much easier to blame Johnny Foreigner who has never kicked a ball in anger (and has only running several other similar organisations on his CV!) the imposter!
Russell Johnson
Guest
Hello Cathar how are you? Yes we have "forummed" before! All this begs the question ; who'd a thought there'd be a philosophical, humanist non-humanist, historically and biologically and evolutionarily ranging argument and debate on an RL forum? Didn't someone suggest some where on here that RL was an essentially working class sport? Have they all deserted RL ? Are they all on holiday at the same time? And all of this from a few fools who couldn't seem allegedly to leave drugs alone and a few fools who are addicted to the sensational motifs and ridiculously illogical connections in their largely badly researched writing! B B King "There Must Be a Better World Somewhere than This!"
Russell Johnson
Guest
I think you've gone overboard a little here Baz ! What about rehabilitation and being given a second chance? I'm not altogether sure you didn't just read Manly there and let your personal prejudices overcome your judgement! ;-)
Dave
Guest
It would definitely seem that way, the sheer number of incidences involving NRL players should be a embarrassment. Australian League players have more indiscretions in a year or two than Australian Union players have had in the past 10 years.
Marco
Guest
Nate Myles as Titans captain! Yep, best not to expect too much. Just keep him out of those hotel hallways.
Von Neumann
Roar Guru
Go JC with the evolution stuff. That's what's happening. We all expect too much. From the arlc's phenomenal progress to player behavior and game spread. We want it now because we are gratification now animals. Seek the salt and sugar now and the meats, nay, make them sweetmeats because that's what we crave. Survival and we will try to liter ourselves to survival instead of thriving if we have to. The thought of an end is always on our mind. So we talk about negative stuff simply to avoid it and solve it so we can survive. But put on your logic hats and you'll realize the game will be fine and better than ever. Its all achievable. This is why I often write long posts. Oh our errors
duecer
Guest
Realistically, it may be the situation, but is it such a bad place to be? AFL doesn't have any international presence, it does OK, NFL does even better, yet is quite limited and is in a similar stage with the Juniors. RL should play to it's strengths - it is the working mans game - nothing wrong with that - why should they try and grab the trendier end of town, who will just move on the the next big thing.
Jay C
Roar Guru
They are doing it on purpose. Headlines generate funding for the QCCC. "Look what we are doing" No dignity in it whatsoever.
Jay C
Roar Guru
;)