I’m sorry, I really am. I wanted to do a puff piece this week about which NRL side a newcomer should support, and I promise it’ll come.
But the spectre of racism and abuse continues to abate the game, and society.
I’m sick of hearing these stories and writing about them. I’m sure you’re sick of reading about it, too, when all you want to do is crack on and focus on the on-field action.
So, imagine how gut wrenchingly awful it is to live through it.
Yesterday, Wigan’s Tony Clubb was charged with a Grade F offence for allegedly racially abusing Hull FC’s Andre Savelio.
This came in the same broadcast that former Ireland international Brian Carney attacked the “nationalistic fervour” of national team manager Shaun Wane’s quoted preference for English-born players.
It also came a day before a coordinated UK-wide sporting boycott of social media channels over online abuse.
Such incidents are not reflective or caused by rugby league. They are reflective on society, amplified by the audience that the sport has.
The action Latrell Mitchell has taken in kicking out (not like that) against internet trolls is a signal of shifting willingness and forthrightness in combating the issue.
(Photo by Don Arnold/Getty Images)
But all of these actions to target hate in sport is akin to taking on the Lernaean Hydra. Every time you cut off the head of a hate-filled imbecile, two more grow back.
It’s an issue that I’m resigned to never seeing fully rectified in my lifetime.
I recently joined Twitter (@sceptical_bunny, if you fancy taking a pot-shot) to try and observe this phenomenon digitally, and it’s fair to say the results were…interesting.
Individuals doubting whether referring to someone’s ethnicity in a derogatory manner was indeed racist (answer: yes, it is), abuse thrown at those who dare to point out the racism inherent in the English game and any measure, no matter how inconsequential, to tackle it.
There has been the constant undermining of nationality and identity surrounding the Polynesian nations.
There were Newcastle Knights ‘fans’ telling Dom Young, after a debut in which he didn’t set the world on fire, to “go back to where he came from” (something with horrible connotations at the worst of times, and quite sickening for a man who has put his hand up for Jamaica and with the current stringency of Australia’s borders).
I’m not diminishing the great strides made by the game. Rugby league can be proud of its drive for Indigenous inclusivity and acknowledgement, while the sport gave Britain its first ever black national captain and coach.
But the crux of the matter comes down to the fact that these incidents are happening not because of rugby league inaction.
Rather, it is happening in spite of the will to punish and eradicate racism.
And that’s the point.
The title of this piece may be ambiguous, but it’s very hard to see what more could be done.
It’s no good saying there’s no room for racism in the game when the society in which it exists thinks and acts differently.
This is not a dig at Australia – England is just as guilty. Nor is it a personal indictment on individuals.
Shaming, as per public health, is no way to seek societal improvements. One of the few avenues left could involve not ostracisation of racist individuals, but re-education.
(Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
Distasteful as it might be, reaching out to those who sent the abuse to Latrell Mitchell, educating them as to why their actions were so heinous, could lead to better long-term results and harmony than simply banning the problem and hoping it goes away.
But we’re reaching a point that it’s no longer useful to expect the governing bodies to fight racism.
Beyond punishments and education, there’s not much more than could be done.
The racism experienced in rugby league in England and Australia has typical English and Australian characteristics to their own episodes – it is not signified by any rugby league characteristics.
Raising our expectations does no one any good, and leaves wider civil organisations (schools, family, friendship groups, media, etc.) off-the-hook for what should ultimately be a societal responsibility.
I promise I’ll be back to more light-hearted, on-the-field matters next.
But this is simply too important to ignore or brush under the carpet.
Tia Roko
Roar Rookie
Keep writing about it Sam. Thank you!
Birdy
Roar Rookie
Well said Steve. Big Artie was my favourite player of all time ,now he my favourite Aussie sportsman of all time. Fact is I didn't even know he was aboriginal until I was a teenager. He did so much for every group in australia, aboriginals, kids, sport. So therefore I can't agree more about your comment on today's actions in fighting racism. Their tactics are too close to reverse racism. Hate never defeats hate , education does. And a little bit of love doesn't hurt either.
Tim Buck 3
Roar Rookie
Yes he's amazing, I didn't know about his Greco-Roman wrestling.
Big Mig
Roar Rookie
Thanks for that background info Tim Buck 3, I have always asked where Big Mal was from, typically one would think from another universe of Herculean humans.
Tim Buck 3
Roar Rookie
That's a very impressive group of great players Big Mig but Big Mal's ancestry is from Melanesia. Something I didn't know until I just looked it up is Malcolm Norman Meninga AM is the head coach of the Australian national team, an Australian former rugby league footballer and former world Greco-Roman wrestling champion. Meninga is widely regarded as one of the finest players in the game's history. The worst thing St.George ever did was when they were looking at signing him they told him he would have to start in reserve grade and force his way into first grade. Mal told them to stick it and went to Canberra and the rest is history.
Hard Yards
Roar Rookie
Don't be frightened.
Philbert
Guest
I always find it ironic when White Supremacists like Kerry insist the Chinese will be ruling us one day. Wouldn't the white supremacist hold the view that they are indomitable?
Philbert
Guest
And when the Chinese are giving you orders , you’ll be wishing he was back on control. Would the Chinese ruling Australia mean that the white people were incapable of defending themselves? Doesn't speak highly for white superiority if a bunch of dem dum dirty yellow folk were able to over run you, no?
Philbert
Guest
*ignorami
Philbert
Guest
I vividly remember Phil Gould deliberately and repeatedly mispronouncing Sam Thaiday's name with a silent H. Why? Because "I eat Thai food, not Thy food" is what he said. The Channel 9 panel are collection of low-brow, no-brow and ingnorami.
Nat
Roar Guru
Being smarter than you isn't "hang up" sweetheart, it is barely 3rd grade equivalent. By your own acknowledgement, you are d.umb.er than a sheep. Weak sook champ and you're gonna get what's coming to you.
The Barry
Roar Guru
Hahahhahaha... The Chinese are going to be murdering white farmers in their homes like in South Africa... and you have the nerve to call other people foools Stop living in fear of scenarios you’ve completely created. You terrify yourself and then project it on to other people...
Kerry Hanson
Guest
It’s interesting how you continually refer back to Mensa . You appear to have some kind of hang up about being of superior intelligence. Probably all you have to cling onto in your nothing ( rat in a cage ) life . BAAAAAAAAAAA BAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA That’s Greta calling out to you . BAAAAAAAAA now run along Barbs , I’ve wasted enough of my precious time on your sad aaaasssss for one day .
Nat
Roar Guru
Greta? Baaaahahahahahahahahaha!! :laughing: :laughing: Speaking of race relations - GRETA!! Wait, what is she known for? Do you just throw any name out? How are those MENSA meeting going sweetheart? :laughing: :laughing: Puff puff pass cheech. Puuf puff pass!! :laughing: :laughing: You are a joke - you got nothing to say.
Nat
Roar Guru
Couldn't help yourself could you cheech? Wake up, smoke your weed and prove yourself a w.a.n.k.e.r. When my dark brothers do rise up and take over, yours is the first house they are coming to just to watch you wet yourself and cry.
Nat
Roar Guru
That's the spirit boydy. Don't acknowledge it, don't call it out, don't talk about it and it'll all go away. This has been all over the news and you want to mouth off at the author because he supports Souths? His examples: what nationality is Savelio? Carney v Wane, what's that got to do with Souths? It's only race baiting if you have an issue with race. The rest of us have an issue with the gutless perpetrators not the guy who calls it out.
Dexter The Hamster
Roar Rookie
What a horrible little man you must be. What a horrible thing to say. I seriously doubt you would have felt the need to write this garbage, if you weren't a fan of the white man ruling over all and sundry.....
Dexter The Hamster
Roar Rookie
Are you still here?? The 50's are calling, they want you back.....
Dexter The Hamster
Roar Rookie
TB, you sum this up so perfectly. Very well said, and I will be pinching your summary going forward, hope you don't mind.
Big Daddy
Roar Rookie
HY, that's very white of you.