Former Wallaby James O’Connor has written a long and rambling response to Greg Martin’s pointed criticisms of the fallen rugby star, claiming the commentator had “no interest in the truth”.
O’Connor was released from his contract with the Queensland Reds to join his former club Toulon, the Australian franchise saying he’d been dealing with a number of personal matters.
It followed a series of other problems he had encountered playing Super Rugby and for the national team.
Martin, himself a former Wallaby, described O’Connor as a “immature twat” and “a little punk” on Wednesday, saying he was one of Australian rugby’s greatest wasted talents.
O’Connor used his Facebook page to mount a 1523-word defence.
“Greg did not say these comments while I was present, he offered me no chance to respond and frankly from the position I stand he does not care,” O’Connor wrote.
“He has no interest in the truth; he has no interest in finding the real story. Greg’s interest is his own opinion and making his own headlines, with no consideration to whom he drags through the mud.
“I am the first to recognise that my previous behaviour was not one of an upstanding individual but, like all people, I wish to learn from my mistakes and look to improve upon myself. Greg’s comment on ‘everyone else growing up, except for James O’Connor’ implies that I have no recognition of the consequences of my previous actions.
“I find it ironic that the man accusing me of being immature then preceded to call me an ‘immature twat’, and ‘a little punk’ on live radio. A childish insult at best, from a 50-year-old father.”
Martin has previously been critical of O’Connor, who slept through the Wallabies’ World Cup announcement in 2011, was released from the Melbourne Rebels in 2013 and was involved in a drunken incident in Perth among other indiscretions.
There were hundreds of responses to O’Connor’s open letter on Facebook with one gaining 500 likes.
It read simply: “Could have just called him a —- and saved all that time.”
Roy
Guest
Agree minus the professional....
Paul Taffy Longman
Roar Rookie
Have all ready commented on Marto previously in '2015 once again confirmed Greg you don't have to have a long neck to be a goose the bloke is a loose cannon and has lost the plot again this time on JC he really needs to retire and get off radio and fox sports comments like this are to often he runs off at the mouth with his opinion only and the bloke has had more backflips than a Chinese acrobat circus when he talks about his expert rugby guru views no one else can get a word in and the truth is no one really cares about your biased views give us all a rest please Mr Martin there I'm being nice lol
AndyS
Guest
In fairness, they probably do it because they don't want to ask something tricky that gets three seconds of dead air and a "Huh...?" or some atrocity that will have the coaches and media liaisons diving for fire extinguishers... Better just to guide them to the safe answer like good little children.
44bottles
Roar Guru
"Usually in media reports, reporters ask questions. But in sports reports, they ask statements instead." https://youtu.be/KGDfWZAbh2c?t=56
Clash
Roar Pro
Excellenty from Joey Johns with the shock jock shocked joc. Emigrated from Scotland to Oz in 1982 and have never understood the enjoyment of running down your own players. Lucky enough to have played in the same club and team as a couple of the Scottish forwards I met them in Brisbane and was given tickets to the first test at Ballymore. We (Scotland) won incidentally but I have never forgotten the booing and boorishness directed to the Oz coach Bob Dwyer because he dropped (I think) Gould and Maclean for the Ella Brothers? James O'Connor is an absolutely wonderful rugby player and a delight to watch. That's a fact. Greg Martin was a pretty good rugby player as well and the closest I ever got to him was being his partner in the rowing training at University. Greg Martin was picked for Australia so he had to have been pretty bloody good and way way better than most of the people on this forum. Dear Greg Martin James O'Connor is a one in a million rugby player and athlete. He was royally screwed by the Australian Press who decided he was a big headed arsehole because he unfortunately talked about himself as "a Brand". The Australian Press (like the lowest British tabloids... and obviously The Dirty Digger Murdoch) don't really like rugby union and take pleasure in turning a young and amazingly talented athlete into a whinger who is "no better than he ought" and should be humble because he was given so much free of charge. Back to the Scotland match on Sunday. Scotland won't win of course. I have a feeling that it will be either an anniahlation (had to look that word up buggerit) or a fight to the end. PS Does anyone else hate the 10 minute sin bin? PPS I have always liked Genia but his admission that he purposely cheated to stop the opposition scoring has made me realise that the Colin Meads sendoff (I wis there) and the Andy Haden cheating is now part of winning at any cost. That's the way rugby seems to be going these days because it appears that if the referee and touch judge (ok assistant refs) doesn't see it then you can be sure that a wee man (in a private box who is able to watch each and ever movement in slow motion) is going to make absolutely sure that even the slightest knock on or offside by one inch is going to dissallow a fair try.
joeys 78
Guest
Vale JOC, great player who found fame too soon. Lets hope that he comes back a more rounded individual who can once again show us his freakish talent in the gold jersey.
jutsie
Guest
its a murdoch owned channel after all, they have to have shows that appeal to the daily telegraph/herald sun reading types. luckily for those that do enjoy proper analysis the show with stransky, wilson and gregan offers a little bit of it (not a lot but much better than the kearns show).
jutsie
Guest
It's the news ltd factor. Marto is paid to drum up contreversey not to provide any insight or analysis. he is the andrew bolt of rugby commentary.
AndyS
Guest
Have to admit that was my first thought. It's possible I suppose, but seems pretty good for a player whose every response during an interview seems to be "Yeah, definitely". Mind you, that probably says as much about the inanity of the questions he gets asked as well...
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Pretty unfair, and off the mark comment. You can say a lot of negative things about James O'Connor. Not putting enough effort into his rugby is not one of them though.
Connor Bennett
Editor
If only he put as much effort into his rugby as he did his Facebook posts then maybe he could fulfill the potential we all know he has.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
He's been injured all year too. I'm sure that's a factor to his non-selection. I always found it hard to get picked for first grade when I was unavailable due to injury.
The Battered Slav
Guest
Yep, it's all very mungo-like. I personally prefer some quality analysis peppered with the occasional bit of banter, rather than boofheads having a low-IQ
circle jerk[Mods. Can we pls stop using this term?] and telling borderline racist jokes. Leave that to the league and AFl footy shows please, and stop insulting our intelligence with Kearns and Maloney.Worlds Biggest
Guest
Both fellas don't come out of this looking great. In particular Marto who should know better. I find the guy a right pain in the @rse and glad he isn't commentating. As for JOC, hope he comes back and plays for the Wallabies again, fantastic talent.
cs
Roar Guru
Don't need anything at all about the issue really, just curious. Presumably it was missing World Cup selection plus French money vs playing for the Reds, which is all pretty personal.
Fox Molder
Guest
Greg Martin - professional d*ckhead.
The Battered Slav
Guest
So Marto is now basically blackmailing JOC. "if you write another eloquent, rational response that makes me look like the idiot that I am, I'll tell the world about some confidential issues of yours'. Top bloke that Greg Martin. Looks to be about as good of a bloke as he was a Wallaby. BTW Marto you boorish cretin, never start an internet flame war with a member of gen y, you won't win.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Glad to see the worm quickly turning against Martin with the way he's acting.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
He was on par with all measurable stats with all Wallaby squad members in the outside backs. Personally I don't know too many wingers who are known for their "selfless" type of play.
Jared Milton
Guest
Leave Justin Bieber alone!!!!