Personally, I love the Queen.
She stood for stability, nobility and impartiality in power, and handled her role with grace, tact and duty that few others could.
She’s far and away one of the role models I admire in the 21st Century, purely because she placed the public good above her own self in many respects.
But I can, as a monarchist, respect those who have different views. And in the vein of free speech, I’ll die defending the right for someone to have an opinion, even if that opinion is something I find dumb or reprehensible.
That’s why the rugby league journalist pile-on of Caitlin Moran makes me so uncomfortable.
Moran made some (now deleted) comments about the Queen. She did so in what I would call poor taste. Dancing on the grave of someone is never what you would call classy, nor is it the standard we should aspire to.
But even more revolting were the calls by Ray Hadley, Phil Rothfield and co. to ban Moran for speaking her mind.
The NRL announced on Tuesday they planned on banning Moran for one match, which equates to one-fifth of the NRLW season. The former Jillaroos back becomes the first women’s player to be banned for an off-field matter in the NRLW’s history.
The Indigenous Knights star also received a suspended fine of 25 per cent of her salary and forced to undergo education and training around the appropriate use of social media.
Moran’s opinion on the Queen has nothing to do with her ability as a player. It has little to nothing to do with the reputation of the game (anyone who thinks it does needs their head read).
Here’s what the line should be: players should be able to have political opinions without being censored by the game.
Caitlin Moran runs the ball during the 2017 Women’s Rugby League World Cup. (Photo by Jason McCawley/Getty Images)
Rugby league isn’t political. It shouldn’t have views as to blind loyalty for political angles, nor should it have political values ascribed to it. Players should be free to hold opinions whether they be good, bad or ugly if they do so personally.
Too often we get involved in the business of telling people what to think rather than recognising that just because you play a game of football, you shouldn’t have to think a certain way.
The NRL statement said: “Rugby league is an inclusive game and has a proud and strong relationship with many communities.
“Regardless of any personal views, all players and officials must adhere to the professional standards expected of them and on this occasion the public comments made by the player have caused damage to the game.”
Moran was not named in the Newcastle team to face St George Illawarra this weekend with Tamika Upton returning at fullback.
Nothing she did impacted a game of rugby league, nor a rugby league player. To say she brought the game into disrepute isn’t just mad, it’s sad. Sad politicking of our game when there needn’t be politics.
While it’s been a sad week for the monarchy, it’s an even sadder week for rugby league when we introduce politics over people.
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Cat Brown
Guest
Nathan Cleary publicly supports a player who films having s#x with women without their consent and continues to play. No stand down. People applauded him for backing his mate. I love the Queens and I hated what she said but she can say it. Nathan Cleary publicly supports a man who assaulted another person and still no stand down. Hypocrisy at it's finest. Keep going Nathan you're untouchable
The Barry
Roar Guru
Me too… I basically wrote what the sporacle had written an hour earlier That “freedom of speech means I can say whatever I want without consequence” misconception bugs me… Freedu.mb
Bingo
Roar Rookie
Poor taste. Classless. Anyone who thinks this is okay needs their head read.
Duncan Smith
Roar Guru
Moran has outed herself as vulgar, stupid, and an Ahole, but I would defend her right to out herself in that way if she really wants to.
WikiDave
Roar Rookie
Having an opinion is one thing but vulgarity towards someone who is admired the world over, who did Caitin no harm is not only inappropriate but an insult to her fans. It is also a reflection of the character of one of the games ambassadors which she is and she has brought the game in to dispute
mushi
Roar Guru
No she isn’t complaining about the NRL, perhaps why I never used the acronym in my post. Dont see your point.
Tony
Roar Guru
:laughing:
Dan Nix
Roar Rookie
I heard on her deathbed she asked for a priest and they sent in a deep frier.
Glory Bound
Roar Rookie
Actually I am very much on the conservative side of the political spectrum these days and I have always been a traditionalist at heart. Yet I am still a Republican who can respect our traditions. I do like to argue a contrary view point at times just to shake things up and watch the lemmings scramble for their burning torches and pitchforks. Popular opinion is often such because there are a multitude of lemmings that will just blindly play follow the leader... right over the cliff into the abyss of ignorance without ever thinking things through for themselves. I much prefer it when people have their own opinions instead of clinging to the popular opinion for safety's sake. I think they are afraid of being singled out and attacked like one of Nurse Ratched's pecking parties from "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest".
Glory Bound
Roar Rookie
I went to Cleveland Street Boys High, danno. We played Dover Heights Boys high school in the Phillips zone School Rugby Union competition. I'm sorry to say mate we never lost and the games were never close. Our major rivals were Matraville, Randwick and Sydney Boys High. In 1982 (if memory serves) 3 teams from the Phillips zone competition made it to the semi-finals (last 4) of the NSW CHS Rugby Union state knockout competition (The Buchan Shield). They were Cleveland Street, Matraville and North Sydney Boys High. The year before Cleveland Street made it to the semi-finals again for the Buckley Shield (NSW CHS Rugby League state knockout competition). We lost that game on the final siren to a ball dropped over the line after the "try scorer" took out the corner post before losing the ball. They kicked a sideline conversion to win the game. That was at Central Coast stadium (formerly Bluetongue stadium).
Tony
Roar Guru
They have a health system?
Tony
Roar Guru
The shame is Phil, that her employer (Newcastle) didn't suspend her. They left it to the NRL. That tells me all I need to know about where the Knights are as a club.
Noel
Roar Rookie
If anyone else had've posted that, I might have had trouble believing it... Always the contrarian.. :laughing:
Adam Bagnall
Roar Guru
Of course she is. And will be punished accordingly if it is in poor taste, brings the game into disrepute, etc. You seem to be missing a pretty simple concept. When you are a professional athlete that comes with standards of behavior that must be met. Been that way for a long time
Dan Nix
Roar Rookie
I think the Scottish health system needs a review. This could happen to any of us.
AR
Guest
I should have scrolled down first. These guys have it 100% correct.
AR
Guest
People often roll out the ‘free speech’ line in these debates. It fundamentally misunderstands what free speech is. Free speech means you are free to speak your mind without fear of government persecution. It means you won’t go to jail for public political discourse. It does not mean: I can say whatever I want, however I want, completely free of any consequences. As adults, people understand there are always consequences to what we say to other people.
max power
Guest
She’s far and away one of the role models I admire in the 21st Century, purely because she placed the public good above her own self in many respects.- wow what a strange indivisual, what else did you expect her to do? the public wouldnt allow it
Derek Murray
Roar Rookie
Yep
Derek Murray
Roar Rookie
No, if you tell her she’s overstepped the mark and she agreed not to do it again, she should be treated like Israel.