Why was Wayne Bennett ever asked if he’s going to sing the English national anthem?
It’s a stupid question asked by someone looking to make up a story where there isn’t one.
The stories are: Bennett has been named England rugby league coach, some people thinks it’s brilliant, others not so, and what can he bring to the party?
There are enough twists and turns in these themes to keep any journo on his or her toes for several books and lightyears of column inches. If you can’t write something with all that help, then step aside and let me in!
Has any football (soccer) coach who plies their trade in England been asked if they will sing “God Save the Queen”? Was Sven-Göran Eriksson asked something similar when coach of England football team?
I have no recollection of them being asked as much, because it’s the kind of lowest-common-denominator journalism that makes Mitchell Pearce more of a story than say some player visiting a terminally ill child in hospital.
To the journalist who thought it was pertinent; in what universe does whether or not one coach will sing a German-family inspired song constitute a sports question? Does it reveal something telling in a team, coach or game? What story can you possibly be looking for?
Did rugby union really get a better deal in coaching terms because Eddie likes to play sing-a-long with the Saxe-Coburgs?
Perhaps the saddest aspect of all this is that it was reported as if it had some sort of credence and validity as a line of inquiry. We need journalists who will treat this sort nonsense to the kind of examination it deserves.
Where are they?
Are they fighting our corner or are they limping along with meaningless bits of rubbish that let this pass like it was Pulitzer Prize material?
Russell
Guest
Hello Von Neuman, that's the philosophical question, we shouldn't need to care because it shouldn't have been asked because he's an Australian and although there was a bit of shoddy politics when they were asked for the Aussies the notion of a queen is a chocolate teapot on the one hand or a moral comfort for the elderly who find it hard to give yesterday up, even though it's gone. But I can't get past stupid, irrelevant and pointless myself! I suppose there could be a hidden motive but I don't know what it is! Do you?
Von Neumann
Roar Guru
I dont know why anyone wouldn't care, actually. Since afterall it IS the team song.
Russell
Guest
GSTQ is a bit like MacDonalds when there's nothing else to eat you poke up with it, when there's something better down the road that's where you go. But the point is he shouldn't have been asked it at all. There was no milage in it unless you're an idiot. Him not singing it is no reflection on him in any way whatsoever! And I'm not attacking Eddie for singing it either, God Save the Queen (standard version) God save our gracious Queen! Long live our noble Queen! God save the Queen! Send her victorious, Happy and glorious, Long to reign over us: God save the Queen! O Lord our God arise, Scatter her enemies, And make them fall: Confound their politics, Frustrate their knavish[26] tricks, On Thee our hopes we fix: God save us all. Thy choicest gifts in store, On her be pleased to pour; Long may she reign: May she defend our laws, And ever give us cause, To sing with heart and voice, God save the Queen! Not one mention of the country involved is really all you need to know. But by asking it, it may have stopped something relevant and important for being asked. I know some Brits, RL fans, who sings something like "She doesn't know we exist....." at every RL event they attend. I think that's a bit unfair as she's been to at least two matches in the longest reign in history! Did anyone ask her opinion of Bennet's appointment?
Russell
Guest
From what I saw he was as good as I've seen him considering the level of stupidity,
Norad
Guest
Bennett is old enough that he would have been singing GSTQ at school every morning as a kid. So why should doing it again now suddenly be a big issue.
William Dalton Davis
Roar Rookie
Didn't Eddie jones make a big deal out of singing it? Silly question but if Eddie jones is singing it I can understand where it's come from. Bennett from what I hear gave a very insightful response. Something along the lines of "no. I'm Australian."
Benjamin Conkey
Editor
Russell, I agree it was a pretty stupid question I guess the only justification is the whole Poms vs Aussie rivalry and the supposed ultimate betrayal if you dare coach or play for the enemy. In this day and age though that shouldn't matter as sport is global and services for coaching will always be sought.