The rise of social media can be accused of doing many things.
In the sporting world, it has given faceless trolls the opportunity to attack athletes and sporting administrators about their performance and it has resulted in athletes being under the microscope 24 hours a day, with the opportunity for their every move to be scrutinised.
This has led to players being caught on camera in compromising positions and resulted in questions about player privacy.
Despite these challenges, social media has also led to some positives. It has given athletes a much bigger platform to connect with fans.
It’s a platform that in most cases the athlete has direct control over and it means that athletes are able to speak with their supporters much more easily and fans are able to speak back.
While social media has also given rise to negative stories being given more airtime and the impact of those stories to be longer lasting, it has also led to the opposite, with everyday fans being able to share stories about the kindness that athletes have shown them or the positive experiences they have had with a player away from the field.
The rise of social media has also led to fan power, where fans are able to directly communicate with the clubs they support and make their opinions known about club decision making.
We saw this play out in rugby league earlier this year when there were suggestions that the St George Illawarra Dragons had conversations with Israel Folau about joining the club.
Folau’s history is well known, as are the reasons why some fans may not want him at their club, but once it became public that the Dragons were interested in signing Folau, rugby league fans began to make their opinions known on social media.
I was one of those fans expressing my hope that no rugby league team would make the decision to sign Folau.
It’s unclear whether the interest the Dragons had in Folau was leaked to the public to get a view on it or to test it in the market. If that was the goal, then the Dragons certainly got that view.
Soon after the news that the Dragons had conversations with Folau, it was announced that the Dragons had made a decision to have no further conversations with him.
To what extent did the commentary on social media have an impact on this? To what extent should the commentary on social media have an impact?
We are seeing a similar situation play out at the Newcastle Knights at the moment.
The rugby league media has suggested that the Knights are very interested in signing Matt Lodge. So interested are the Knights that Lodge may sign with the club with enough time to make his debut against the Parramatta Eels on Sunday week.
But a group of extremely passionate Knights fans have taken to social media to let the club know exactly how they are feeling about this news.
Some are so disappointed in Lodge’s potential signing that they have threatened to hand back their memberships if the club signs him. Others have threatened to stop spending money with the Knights if Lodge signs and others have said they will boycott games.
I love that fans now have a place where they can share their thoughts directly with the club. I also love that clubs are now being held to account by the fans on issues that matter to the fan-base.
While fans may not contribute as much financially as sponsors, without fans a club has no heartbeat. The fans are the ones that are supposed to be there through thick and thin and to the extent possible, they should be able to share their views on the decisions made by their clubs.
The Lodge signing is a tricky one.
He’s certainly not a player that I would want at my club.
But one of the biggest challenges I have found with supporting a team is understanding that I support that club and its jersey, rather than the individual players who wear that jersey.
Players may come and go, but the club is what remains constant and consistent.
Over the years, the Parramatta Eels have certainly made signing decisions that have surprised me, baffled me and at times, disappointed me. Bryce Cartwright was one of those signings earlier this year.
But throughout that time my support for the club has persisted.
To the Knights fans that are considering handing in their memberships if Lodge signs, I applaud your courage, your commitment and your integrity.
I also applaud your candour and how vocal you have been in sharing how you feel with your club.
While you may make a visible choice to lessen the financial support you give your club, I know that the support you have for that club will persist.
And when Lodge’s career eventually comes to an end (whether that be at the Knights or another club), I hope you manage to find your way back.
Kent Dorfman
Roar Rookie
hardly being thrown on the scrap heap - plenty of jobs out there besides footy that he can do.
Mark
Guest
Yes, Mitchell Pearce is a repeat offender, and he has been punished for each offence. And none of his offences is comparable to Lodge’s, for which he was very lucky to avoid jail. No credible comparison can be made between Pearce and Lodge.
GregM
Roar Rookie
maybe if players do something & the club loses a sponsor, the offending players have to pick up the tab for lost sponsorship – then maybe they’ll think twice. About time these players realised that it’s a privelege to play footy for a living and to be thankful that they are on the coin they are on, and not having to work a full time job and play footy on the weekends like in the 80’s.
The Barry
Roar Guru
Yeah, I think setting the bar for acceptable behaviour at whether a law was broken is pretty low I don’t really want to rehash the issue but using a school visit as an opportunity to pick up school girls is pretty grim regardless if it wasn’t illegal…
GregM
Roar Rookie
yes Mary "Players may come and go, but the club is what remains constant and consistent." - the fans shell out their hard earned each week, merchandise etc, the fans show loyalty, the players for most part their loyalty is to the almighty $$. If clubs want to know what it is like to play with no fans all they have to do is go as far back as 2020 with covid & the empty stadiums.
GregM
Roar Rookie
may as well be for all of eternity considering how short a pro athletes career is, esp RL
GregM
Roar Rookie
the only aggression Barba shows is when he's punching out his missus
GregM
Roar Rookie
yes - in the world according to Joey
GregM
Roar Rookie
yes but legally they did nothing wrong, it became a moral one. personally i wish the NRL had a pair and stood firm with their sackings but as usual they rolled over onto their backs
Tom
Guest
Likening Pearce's indiscretions to what Lodge did in NYC is a long bow to draw
Maxtruck
Roar Rookie
If Qantas were not the major sponsor of Aust Rugby Union at the time, Folau would still be playing.
Maxtruck
Roar Rookie
The issue with Lodge at the Broncs is not Lodge's doing. Who was the pelican from the Broncos whos gave him a 5 year contact @ $700k per season ( 3 years plus 2 years PO). He has already spent more weeks injured or suspended than playing. Was someone getting kickbacks ? Like Jeff Toovey would say " There's gotta be an investigation into this! Someone's gotta be accountable for this!"
Adam Bagnall
Roar Guru
He didn't cause that much damage that was the payout agreement that Lodge and the victims came too although not sure how Lodge can afford that much. Should not have been allowed to return to the NRL. Meanwhile am innocent man has sat out 2 full seasons
Succhi
Roar Rookie
I think Lodge has done his time, and to my knowledge he has not put a foot wrong since playing for the Broncos. The real question should be can he add value to the Knights team and organisation? I’m not sure. The Knights have a representative level forward pack, so my feeling is their problems lie elsewhere. (And if we want to question their forgiveness approach- seems Pearce was deemed OK for the club?)
Simon SS
Roar Rookie
Most people are defined by their job unless they then commit a crime
Larry1950
Guest
Elvis, I recall back in the day telling mates I’d give up the grog if a pot (that’s maroon for a 10oz beer) ever cost $1. Empty threats didn’t have much impact, it’s the old man’s bladder that’s kept me in check, not the $5 pots.
jimmmy
Roar Rookie
I think we are to a degree. We shouldn't be defined by our worst ever moments.
Larry1950
Guest
Based on comments from insiders I know at the broncs, Lodge is a bit of an ‘Alpha male’ in that group of young forwards & kevvie isn’t overly impressed by that influence. I think they’d prefer a Kurt Capewell style older head. To my eyes, the broncs slump to the bottom started around the time they lost the inspiring workhorse Matt Gillett who never got his deserved accolades & they haven’t had one like him since.
Larry1950
Guest
TB, we had Julian O’neill at the broncs back in the day & the hierarchy kept making excuses for him until his form waned & he moved on. Bennett decided on giving Lodge a shot but he also lumbered us with that dropkick Jimmy the Jet who was forever playing up & of course gave a monosyllabic Darius Boyd a mammoth 4 year contract as he was hitting his thirties. To be fair, I think Seibold carries the can for Lodge’s lengthy & excessive remuneration which is going to cost us for ages if he goes. Don’t think Lodge would have got a run if Webke & Petro were around.
Glen
Guest
No problem with Folau as a signing. He shouldn't be hounded out of every job. Bringing on someone like Matt Lodge though would be concerning for me. I'm surprised some players get a look in given their violent history. Russell Packer rings a bell too.