Of course, we should have seen it coming.
When Peter V’landys first took over as ARLC Chairman and made that famous speech wherein he vowed to “destroy the game of rugby league for good” and laughed insanely for over eight minutes straight, we should have read between the lines and realised: this man meant no good.
Well, he’s made good on that promise, hasn’t he? With this weekend’s fascist crackdown on high tackles, rugby league as we know it is dead and buried and all of us who once loved it might as well go find an ice hockey team to follow.
For what kind of game will rugby league be, if tackling around the head and neck is suddenly forbidden? What kind of game, where proud men are sent from the field simply for doing what comes naturally and hitting other proud men in the head?
What kind of game, where players are so infantilised that they are not presumed to be mature and responsible enough to give informed consent to being concussed?
I’ll tell you this: it’s not the game I grew up with.
It’s not the game of Rex Mossop, or Kevin Ryan, or Noel Kelly or any of the mighty melon-whackers of days now sadly behind us.
These were men who knew what it was to cop a swinging arm across the chops, and give one back in return, and then get another one, and then give another one, and so on and so on until nobody could even remember whether they’d actually been playing a game of football in the first place.
Rugby league is a magnificent sport with a rich and vivid history, built almost entirely on hitting men in the head.
Everyone remembers the great Parramatta team of the 1980s, coached by the legendary Jack Gibson, and the enterprising and free-flowing way they used to smack their opponents in the face.
That Eels team vied for supremacy with the fearsome Canterbury Bulldogs, who built their success on a rock-solid, concussion-focused defence.
Think of the greatest moments in rugby league history: you can be sure over 90 per cent of them involve forceful contact to the head. Recall Game 1 of the 1994 State of Origin series, in which Queensland seemed dead and buried until, in a sweeping movement starting deep in their own half, the Maroons repeatedly punched the NSW team in the face, thus securing a last-second victory.
Or that incredible streak when Queensland concussed the entire NSW team eight years in a row.
A similar scenario was played out by Newcastle in the 1997 grand final, when Andrew Johns snuck down the blindside, broke Geoff Toovey’s jaw, and took the title.
In fact grand finals have always been the stage on which rugby league’s finest headhunters have plied their trade, from Brett Kenny of the aforementioned Eels, who concussed two opponents in each of three consecutive deciders, to Benji Marshall, who famously hit Johnathan Thurston in the head behind his own back in 2005.
And what would have happened in the 1988 grand final had Terry Lamb not shown his skill and game sense by thumping Ellery Hanley?
Hanley may well have played out the entire game, possibly even scoring some tries and displaying his supreme athleticism. Which is hardly what the crowd came to see.
Rollin’ in his grave. (Photo by Sean Garnsworthy/Getty Images)
And that’s what this is all about, and what Mr so-called V’landys doesn’t seem to get: rugby league isn’t about the rulemakers or the executives or the neurologists.
It’s about the fans. And what rugby league fans want is what they’ve always gotten from league, more than any other sport: head injuries. Take the cranial trauma out of league and you end up with a game that is frankly indistinguishable from lawn bowls.
But that’s what they’ve done. They’ve killed the noble sport that began all those years ago when disgruntled rugby union players formed their own competition due to greedy administrators who wouldn’t let them hit each other in the head.
Ever since that day, though league has gone through myriad changes, one principle has remained at the heart of the game: the principle of healthy, competitive brain damage.
Not any more, though. It’s all over for head-high contact, and so it’s all over for rugby league. From now on the game will be played only by soft, effeminate poseurs who prance about the field in full possession of their mental faculties, remembering with total clarity the recent events of their lives.
And that sure as hell ain’t the game I fell in love with.
Jarryn
Roar Rookie
No at least the roosters have finally had a couple of suspensions. In true fashion they fought the charges and delighted to say they lost. Most other clubs just accept early guilty plea. NOT THE CHOOKS!
Jarryn
Roar Rookie
Good on ya Bazza
Jarryn
Roar Rookie
Seems most teams in the nrl are accepting the clampdown on high shots taking early guilty pleas. Apart from the roosters of course
Heyou
Roar Rookie
Mmm netball... non-contact? Yep, kind of, and very safe.. except for the knee and ankle injuries ruining careers.The old hamstrings cop a bit too. I don’t want to watch netball. I like Rugby League. It’s just going through the ‘change’ like a cocoon - sleeping bag stage right now and in the spring it will emerge as a butterfly. I don’t mind butterflies but they cannot play RL for love nor money.
Don't mind the crackdown on high tackles. But bring back the biff.
Cugel
Roar Rookie
Get with the program, can't you hear all the voices chanting in unison: There is no unavoidable contact, it's not part of a contact sport. There is no unavoidable contact, it's not part of a contact sport. There is no unavoidable contact, it's not part of a contact sport. There is no unavoidable contact, it's not part of a contact sport. You now have to go directly to dinosaur jail forever. Now that's satire :p
Col in Paradise
Roar Rookie
The ones on the media are prime examples of players with Brain damage!
Ethan
Roar Rookie
Thats the best thing ive read in ages!
Censored Often
Roar Rookie
"In fact grand finals have always been the stage on which rugby league’s finest headhunters have plied their trade, from Brett Kenny of the aforementioned Eels, who concussed two opponents in each of three consecutive deciders..." I was in the crowd for all three games and I don't remember Robert Redfern concussing anyone, certainly not six different players. Which players were on the end of this habitual headhunter's scurrilous thuggery?
mushi
Roar Guru
Look it was a good run. think about the coaches though we've 12 months away from a homeless and drunk Adam Obrien staggering around the streets of Newie screaming "don't you know who I am"
Heyou
Roar Rookie
It’s interesting that the author and a majority of commentators involved in this particular discussion seem to believe that the tragic round crack down on banned tackling techniques is the reason so many spectators and supporters of the game are stirred up, frustrated and angry enough to be coming out in droves to express their dissatisfaction It’s not. Can any of you see beyond your sarcasm and disdain for the people who have loved this game and are feeling disenchanted and disenfranchised ? It’s not about loving the head clashes and tackles that result in injuries to players. Why on God’s good earth would fans want members of the teams they support and love injured, in pain, bleeding, broken and concussed? Do I need to explain why it’s not what they want for their team? Or can you figure it out for yourselves? Mocking the supporters is a low blow. It seems that the majority of commentators in this forum have totally got the wrong end of the stick. Get down off your high horses and maybe you will be blinded by the light and have a Eureka! moment when it all becomes clear to you. Rugby League fans DON’T want to see concussions and brain injuries. What they do want is their game back. The NRL brand of RL is becoming unrecognisable. Constant annual, monthly, weekly, and now even daily ‘edits’ to the game and the inconsistency, incompetences and inequity in the way the game is being adjudicated is at the crux of the matter. If you don’t get it now you probably never will. I’m disappointed to read so much guff, sarcasm and sanctimonious BS from otherwise intelligent, witty, deep -thinking and respected authors on the subject. Have at me now if it takes your fancy. I would appreciate it if you would leave the sarcasm out just this once.
Megeng
Roar Rookie
Get out. Scrums are the funniest part of league. Don't touch them
Maxtruck
Roar Rookie
Ben, How do you type with your hands in your underpants ?
andyfnq
Roar Rookie
One of the best articles I have read about any sport on the ROAR, thank you! Both entertaining and persuasive
Roy Huxley
Guest
What a load of over dramatic BS. RL will survive and still be being played 100 years from now.
Pete
Guest
You're a drongo Ben...so belting players in the head and neck tackling is your idea of toughness seriously the game has changed in all football codes this is the era of player welfare and safety...football can still be enjoyed without having to rip a person's head off get a life.
Rossi
Roar Rookie
I love that he spelt incompetent incorrectly
Tony
Roar Guru
:laughing:
The Late News
Roar Rookie
Tony...you haven't lived!
Charlie Keegan
Roar Guru
Bring back the Hopoate Finger.