Season 2015 you have been absolutely magic. Looking back there are so many moments that I remember with fondness.
Seeing Jake Friend shine as he became co-captain at the Sydney Roosters, watching the Parramatta Eels launch their Domestic Violence Action Plan, Blake Austin’s hat-trick with the Canberra Raiders, David Klemmer and Aaron Woods developing a bromance during State of Origin, the surge of the Baby Broncos, and of course, the fairy tale that was Sudnay night.
I have spent so much of this year talking about rugby league and my passion for the game. I have watched with pride as our sport continues to give back to the community and to the adoring fans to whom the game belongs.
I have said phrases like “the NRL is the story when it comes to gender diversity in sport” and “there is no sport which has a greater commitment to gender diversity in Australia than the NRL” a number of times.
I will repeat these messages as many times as I need to to get the message across.
But I cannot do this alone. Despite my greatest attempts, there is still an issue with the reputation of our game which we all have a responsibility to help fix.
And we went part of the way toward fixing it on Sunday night.
As people discuss whether golden point is the correct way to decide a grand final, while others sympathise with Ben Hunt, and marvel at the quality of football we saw, a couple of images have now become synonymous with the 2015 grand final.
Those images are of Johnathan Thurston with his beautiful daughter.
Following the yelps of jubilation, the tears, the speeches, the hugs and the roar of the crowd, lovers of rugby league paused and watched Thurston sit on the grass with his little girl. It was one of the most touching moments I have ever seen.
The little girl is enamoured with her father, with the medal around his neck. JT is smitten with his daughter. In her hands she holds a little dolly. Surrounding them is absolute chaos both on and off the field, but the two of them are in their own little world – taking a quiet moment to enjoy something very special before the moment fades away.
In those few images, rugby league was shown in the light I see it. As a sport played by men with tremendous passion for the game, staunchly supported by their loved ones (including wives, mothers, fathers and children).
It is a game about commitment, about passion, about loyalty and love for your team and your brothers on the field. At its heart, rugby league is a game about family, and on Sunday night Australia cooed as JT celebrated with his.
We were witness to true emotion and pure love and I could not have been prouder to be an onlooker.
I hope the image is used to remember a truly remarkable season. I hope that the next time someone comments ‘NRL is a game played by boofheads and thugs’ or that the NRL is nothing more than a ‘working-class game’, someone else shows them that image and they can take a moment to reflect on a moment of pure joy among the chaos of a grand final.
Congratulations to you JT, we are all proud of you. You are a true ornament of the game of rugby league. And after Sunday night, I can say with even more confidence that it is truly the greatest game of all.
This is @mary__kaye from @ladieswholeague
Cathar Treize
Roar Guru
Read this: http://thebulldogs.com.au/sportal.php?page=article&id=241 There is more out there on it, just gotta look.
Martha
Guest
Detective resigned really who??
Cathar Treize
Roar Guru
Crashy, you're very insidious in coming in when threads like this have wound down. It seems to be the result of an egocentric delusion that your spiteful rants actually mean something outside your parent's basement. Meanwhile, rugby league is mutually opening doors with touch footy, the future you feel is so bleak for league. Remember players like Benji Marshall & Shaun Johnson? If you don't fully understand the benefits of this article: http://www.nrl.com/new-series-a-boost-to-touch-/tabid/10874/newsid/90498/default.aspx?utm_term=nrl&utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter Rugby league has never needed yours or rugby union's justification to exist. Time you concentrated on the things you love, but remember 'hate' is not love nor very healthy for you.
Cathar Treize
Roar Guru
That's if those figures are correct. Union has been caught out lying before http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=10761073 There is a difference between reach & actual numbers which union commentators fail to mention. Can we hear something different after 100 odd years of this crap talk?
Crashy
Guest
JT is a legend though the below article concerns me deeply about the future of the game. http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2015/oct/06/japans-rugby-world-cup-success-breaks-world-tv-viewing-record my gosh they are big numbers. We could see more and more NRL players lost to rugby. Craig Wing is clearly hating life
Brett
Guest
A lot of negative nancy's in this thread.
Bruce
Guest
There's probably a good little lesson in this for you pete. You've made a misstep mate but you can clean up your act, set a good example and be lauded in the future, just like JT.
Sleiman Azizi
Roar Guru
It's part of Australia's problem with sporting spirituality Immortals... (rolls eyes)
pete bloor
Guest
I got that sleiman, I just don't think it's relevant as no one is holding Johns Lewis etal out as moral beacons
pete bloor
Guest
And I reported my own comment and asked for it to be removed the roar decided the click bait was more valuable
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
Think maybe you went too far mate.
pete bloor
Guest
I would appreciate if my comments were removed, I hadn't said anything on the umpteen other times this has been brought up and I shouldn't have this time. I'm not a journalist and the person speaking to me had every right to privacy.
Sleiman Azizi
Roar Guru
You missed my point pete bloor. I was mocking the Immortal status and the whole idol creation mentality of the media and fans.
pete bloor
Guest
Yep good call
pete bloor
Guest
Not saying it was rape. I've had some conversations with someone else that admitted to being there (who denied vehemently that it was rape but conceded some grey areas). Isn't my story to tell. But also isn't one she will ever get a fair hearing on either. As I did highlight earlier, but in the way of the roar you need to pick and eviscerate, he's matured. The sins of his past should, to a degree, be let go. But to hold him out as the pinnacle of what a rugby league player can be as a person well that's a bridge to far for me.
pete bloor
Guest
Mate I've had my own missteps and been put on false pedestals. That's why I know a metaphorical false idol when I see one. I'm not saying crucify the guy but at the same time celebrating his mortality is a bit rich.
pete bloor
Guest
Hmm again with the Johns thing and I'm sure if respond you'll side step again given you've never been one for actual truth or debate.
Samtwocan
Guest
You ain't lived then Squidders .
Really
Guest
Yes JT is the best advertisement for the league , with his gay tattooed wings and Jeff Fenech words of wisdom," Luv yuz alls " ! Sorry, I couldnt help myself !
Sleiman Azizi
Roar Guru
Not having to is of no use to those who have to. Nobody is perfect. Unless you are an Immortal...