Dear Api, after your recent time in the spotlight, I felt compelled to write you a letter.
First, a bit about me. I am a huge NRL fan. Watch every game. Watch and listen to as many footy shows as possible. Read as many articles as I can. Fortunate enough to write some too. I wear my Blues jersey with pride in a house full of maroon.
I am currently in lockdown. Again.
There are so many people doing it tough right now. Jobs lost, hours decreased, working from home while trying to remember maths to help their kids with schoolwork.
Missing loved ones. Trying to pay bills. Struggling to keep it all under control.
One of the shining lights for many is watching the footy. Not only as escapism, but because they love it and it’s their passion.
The NRL and the government have gone above and beyond to allow the competition to continue. It is an absolute privilege to have the footy still on every weekend, with many working day and night behind the scenes to keep players like yourself on the field. And getting paid.
While many are battling to put food on the table, you still get to play the game you love and earn a wage from it.
In order to keep playing, the teams have been placed in the NRL bubble. There have been many warnings throughout the season from officials that if the bubble is broken, the competition may be stopped.
Key to the bubble is if you are in the bubble, stay in it. If you are not in the bubble, stay out of it. Pretty simple instructions, like what children get from their parents: “Do the wrong thing and you don’t get to play.”
We assumed adults wouldn’t have any problem with this. How wrong we were.
The Dragons had their BBQ fiasco. The ‘COVID-13’, thought they could get away with having a gathering, despite knowing the restrictions and being told by their coach not to. Many believe that while idiotic, and that they should have told the truth from the start, at least they were among teammates and not out of the bubble.
Paul Vaughan (Photo by Speed Media/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
They received fines and suspensions. Paul Vaughan copped the most with a $50,000 fine, an eight-week suspension from the NRL, and having his contract torn up by the Dragons.
Then, Jai Arrow decided to sneak in a ‘private dancer’ for some obviously urgent dance lessons during the State of Origin 3 camp, not only breaking the NRL bubble, but the Origin bubble.
He lost his spot in the Queensland side, received a two-match ban and a $35,000 fine.
Surely that was it. There is no way we would hear about another player knowingly putting the entire competition in jeopardy.
That’s when you said, “Hold my beer.”
Last week, it came out that you too, had snuck a lady into your hotel room during Origin camp. But that’s where the similarity to Arrow’s situation ends.
Not only did you meet up with her twice during Origin 2 camp, but were all set to meet up with her again during Origin 3 camp, only calling off the rendezvous after news broke of Arrow getting kicked out of camp.
And while Arrow came forward and got reprimanded, you hid in the shadows. You knew that you had done the same thing, but you said nothing.
I’d like to think that while the Queensland camp were in crisis mode, someone in the Blues camp asked everyone: “Okay boys, tell us now. Has anyone broken the bubble?” I’m guessing if that question was asked, you would have said, “Nope.”
And that was that. You went on to play Origin, got your photo with the trophy, claimed your match fee, and laughed in the faces of everyone that has worked their butts off to keep the game going.
Your indiscretions eventually came to light. Not from personal admission though. The lady that you snuck into your hotel room had been trying to contact you and you had been ignoring her. So, she contacted the next best person. Your wife.
You were busted.
Your marriage is your business. You could have snuck a mate in to play PlayStation and we would still be having the same conversation. The fact that you cheated just goes to show the kind of person you are.
What I’m angry about is that you broke the rules, could have derailed the rest of the NRL season and lied about it. You did it despite knowing everything that was at stake and believed you were so above anyone else to care.
You could have potentially spread COVID throughout both origin teams. Twice.
You almost ruined the chance for anyone else involved with the NRL to earn a wage.
You nearly took away the shining light from all of us stuck at home.
I’m glad that you got caught.
(Photo by Jason McCawley/Getty Images)
I’m not happy with your punishment though: a two-game suspension and a $35,000 fine. The same as Jai Arrow’s – except that you still got to play Origin and get paid for the privilege.
I expected you to miss the rest of the season. I still can’t understand how you got less than Vaughan.
Reports suggest that you have ruined any chance of future Origin selection. I don’t think I could have cheered for you representing my state anyway.
You have come out with the standard apology statement. You’re not sorry for what you did, you’re sorry you got caught.
As a wife, I hope your wife is okay. I hope the pain and embarrassment you have caused her eases as time goes on.
As a mum, I hope your girls are okay. I hope that they don’t get their moral compasses from you.
As an NRL fan, I hope this follows you around for the rest of your career. To be remembered as the snake in the grass who thought he could have his bit on the side and not give two hoots about potentially ending the 2021 NRL competition.
Rugby league is a team sport. Working together and having trust. Being able to rely on your teammates and have them being able to rely on you.
Maybe you should have a look at an individual sport.
Yours sincerely,
Lady League.
Kent Dorfman
Roar Rookie
all he'll learn is to make sure his next fling doesn't get hold of his wife's number
Kent Dorfman
Roar Rookie
yes Elvis many are ignoring the bubble, but how many are on $850,000.00 a year? What would you be thinking if the NRL, or the Govt said “enoughs enough” – the NRL comp is done for 2020 / 2021, all of the players can apply online for the dole, and they have no one else to blame than themselves for this
Danielle Smith
Editor
I agree Jay, way too lightly.
Danielle Smith
Editor
Thanks Andy. Well you agree with the rest of my house then when it comes to Origin!
Danielle Smith
Editor
Thanks John. And yes it always stings a bit more when it’s from your own team.
andyfnq
Roar Rookie
Well written, and apart from your love of the Blues, I agree with all the opinions expressed in this article.
Jay
Guest
His match payments from state of origin should be takin from him. He got off way to lightly. Definitely feel for his wife .
David George
Guest
I agree if the advage Joe has to follow the rules and the nrl can continue to brake them shut the whole circus down
Tim
Guest
The point is we are 18 months into a world pandemic, and all NRL rugby league players and related staff have been given a privilege not given to the general public. In that they can continue work while one or more of the States it is played in are in lockdown. Further more, they have known the rules around this privilege for over 12 months, any and all that have broken the rules should have been banned from the NRL for life, including the likes of Wayne Bennett, who actually laughed when asked if he would breach the bubble by going to the same restaurant again when he last breached the bubble. The fact is these selfish grubs believe and have been shown to be able to laugh in the face of the rest of society because the play a "professional game" that's right, it is just a game. From what I see Rugby League, has no values, I see Paul Vaughan has been given a contract with the Bulldogs, so you know where their values are, well it probably speaks volumes about Australian values. Just saying, born and lived in Australia for 50 years, the Australian values I have seen are, racist, sexist drunks getting away with this behaviour. Not to mention the 200 year and ongoing genocide of the oldest continuous living culture on the planet, well done Aussies.
John
Guest
Could not have said it any better. What’s more embarrassing I am and have been a Penrith supporter all my life.
Danielle Smith
Editor
Was not trying to sound condesending. But I did not want to get into a battle with you over something medical. From what you and I have already written, we can both tell that we have different views about Covid and how bad it is. So, just to confirm, you’re saying that if anyone – ever – says that rules are meant to be followed, that they don’t understand the rules and have no argument about why the rules are there? So people who say “Don’t speed, wear your seatbelt, you must be 18 to drink alcohol”, etc, don’t actually understand why these rules are in place? I’m not here to say what the government is doing is right or wrong, I’m talking about what the laws and rules are right now. And I was trying to enforce the point that if people were able to work at the moment – like the footy players – and the selfishness of one person made that work close down – like Api – that they would be furious. I don’t understand how that makes me sound optimistic? If that was me I would be furious.
elvis
Roar Rookie
Well that's very condescending. You don't have the patience to argue with someone because your view is so obviously correct. Your post seems to boil down to, rules are there to be followed, which is what I see when someone either has no argument or doesn't understand or know the deeper concepts behind a law or rule. "their job or work was shut down because of somoene else’s selfishness and stupidity", their jobs are already being shut down for the impossible job of entirely eradicating the virus. I bet you would not be so sanguine if your house was looking like being repossessed. Do we keep closing the economy until the very last job is gone?
DP Schaefer
Roar Rookie
I hear your frustration and I'm sure there are lots out there who can and could and would do likewise. The issue here is that so much was riding on him having a sensible thought instead. A teen 'borrowing' dad's car to duck out the back paddock for some necking could be classed as 'boys will be boys' shenanigans, yet becomes a whole different ball game if there is a fire coming and the family's going to need that car to escape.
DP Schaefer
Roar Rookie
Good points LL and I concur on many levels. One minor disagreement – I don’t think anyone should carry their errors for all time. I feel uncomfortable when people still mention certain entities and bubblers and dogs and rooftop drinks. There comes a point where you just got to let the past lay. Lets hope there comes a day – not too far into the future – where he’s done enough positive so people put this behind them.
Danielle Smith
Editor
I get what you are saying Jockstar, but my article was more about him knowingly breaking the bubble rules that are in place. Him cheating on his wife is disgusting, shows the kind of person he is and the fact that this is all in the public eye would be so humiliating for his wife. But like I said, I would have still written this article if he had snuck a friend into the hotel to play Playstation. It's the blatant disregard for the rules, the lying and cover up, and knowing that his selfish actions could have hurt so many more people and he did not care.
Danielle Smith
Editor
Thanks Bill. Yes, I think his punishment is just ridiculous. He won't learn from it.
Danielle Smith
Editor
Thanks UITN. Yep, I still have no idea how he copped the same as Arrow.
Danielle Smith
Editor
Thanks Mick
Danielle Smith
Editor
Elvis, just because more than 1 person does something wrong, that does not make it right. Rules and laws are put in place for a reason. Whether it be to keep order, or people safe and protected. You may or may not believe in Covid,or believe it’s only a disease the kills the elderly – that’s up to you. I’m not going to get into an argument with you over that – I do not have the patience. I’m sure there are many that are breaking the rules, and that’s on them. They may get punished eventually, it may be through the police and the courts, or worse yet medically. But at the moment the rules are the rules and everyone knows them. Api knew them and knew what was at stake and he broke them anyway. And his selfishnesses was not only going to affect him, but it could have de-railed the whole competition. In regards to your point about household incomes – I’m sure anyone who is working right now is very grateful, and if their job or work was shut down because of somoene else’s selfishness and stupidity of not following the rules, they would be furious.
Danielle Smith
Editor
Thanks Nat. That's it, calculated and repeated. And the fact that he cancelled the 3rd catch up because he heard Arrow got kicked out, not becuase he knew what he was doing was wrong.