It seems from the authoritative source of Wikipedia that a “sledge” or “sledging” are peculiarly Australian expressions that have their origins in cricket and may be derived from the soul singer Percy Sledge.
Sledging is also called chirping, chipping, or trash talking in other sports and locations. Some sledgers and trash talkers have become icons – think Muhammad Ali. A sledge is basically an insult intended to distract or put off an opponent as a type of non-physical gamesmanship.
There are generic sledges like “the winger is slow- run at him”; “we’ve got ‘em rattled”, and there are personal sledges. Personal sledges involve targeting a player personal and usually physical or ethno-cultural characteristics in a negative way (fat, gay, black, short, red haired etc.). Racist and homophobic sledges are outlawed in most sports, including the NRL. but remain prevalent it seems. Other types of personal sledges are fair game- and again are very commonplace, from the pro ranks through to park sport.
Spencer Leniu exchanges heated words with Kotoni Staggs. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
Having thought about the Ezra Mam incident in Las Vegas, I think there is a good case to introduce a code that regulates the use of all personal sledges in the same way that racist sledges are policed.
There is no good reason why professional sport, even a tough contact sport like NRL, should allow conduct that would be censured in any other environment. Arguments along the lines of ‘what happens on the field should stay on the field’, ‘harden up’, ‘it’s all fun and games’, are facile, immature and self- evidently illogical. If these arguments are to be accepted in the NRL then why wouldn’t they be accepted in tennis or in the classroom or in the workplace?
Yes, NRL is a tough sport, but this provides insufficient cover to say and do things which are way outside any parameters of normal behaviour. In any case, the NRL has crossed the Rubicon by outlawing racist and homophobic slurs, so it’s time it to look more broadly at personal slurs such as those involving physical characteristics and reference to players’ wives and family members.
The line between gamesmanship and competitive trash talk and personal slurs can be a fine one but most sensible people can differentiate the two. It’s a matter of content, tone and circumstances.
If the NRL published some supplementary guidelines it might provide some clarity on what is acceptable and what isn’t. I’m not advocating for on field punishments such as send offs for calling a player fat, although in appropriate circumstances, that might be appropriate. However post match reviews should consider personal slurs beyond the racist and homophobic that go beyond the bounds. In appropriate circumstances punishments should be meted out.
Brisbane’s Reece Walsh was suspended for 3 games in 2023 for abusing a referee. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)
Of course, many or even most people reading this will be outraged and incredulous and thinking the idea of further regulating sledges is stupid – but why? It is just an extension of the present ban on racist and homophobic slurs and most sensible fans and others involved in the game think that ban is sensible. Further, what would be lost from such an approach and what would be gained?
Who thinks the game is for the better because players can make gross comments about players girlfriends or make silly homophobic comments or body shame players? On the other hand, what would be gained is a more sporting, and frankly more manly and aspirational game. There is nothing noble or manly or ‘hard’ about calling someone a name. I fully expect there is personal sledging going on in the NRLW too, and this should also be addressed.
Lastly, the NRL has poured a lot of resources into indigenous round and the NRLW and on inclusivity initiatives and this is great for the game. Looking more closely at regulating non-physical abuse and sledging would also do a lot to make the game more inclusive and better received in the wider community.
Blink
Roar Rookie
A few roos short in the top paddock aren't you left right. Sounds like a boxing avatar that has been knocked out in every contest after not having an abundance of brain matter to start with. You should stick to playing "Snakes & Ladders", where you might win if you throw the right dice.
Duncan Smith
Roar Guru
Family should be off limits.
The Barry
Roar Guru
Suggesting r..cist and homophobic sledging “remains prevalent” is a massive stretch You only have to see the reactions to the players involved, officials and generally fans to know that junk like Leniu’s is the exception. Same as Montoya (?) a year or two ago The “line in the sand” is fine where it is. Sledging is a fine part of sport as long as it doesn’t descend where Leniu took it
Brett Allen
Roar Rookie
Who needs nuclear weapons when words apparently have so much power !!!
Maxtruck
Roar Rookie
To back this up can you let us know how many Rugby League or Rugby Union games you played.
LeftRight
Roar Rookie
Mam should go and play soccer. All he's doing is trying to milk a penalty (in this case the suspension of a player on another team). Even soccer has finally shaken this nonsense out of their game. Considering the trite comment that was made on the field, if Mam can't cop this, then he should get a real job.
mrl
Roar Rookie
Change of President imminent.
Tony
Roar Guru
4 years? Let's hear how you arrive at that result.
Maxtruck
Roar Rookie
Bit rich referring to the Australian Rugby team as professionals, only beat Georgia at the WC
BigGordon
Roar Rookie
Sad but very true. Who said dinosaurs were extinct?
Don
Roar Rookie
Gus would blame social media. He blames it for racism, homophobia, sexism and most types of discrimination and vilification. Then he would say, the NRL doesn't need to do anything and should leave it to the clubs to teach and manage the players.
Maxtruck
Roar Rookie
"Racist and homophobic sledges are outlawed in most sports, including the NRL. but remain prevalent it seems." Your kidding! Last suspension for a personal slur was homophobic from Marcelo Montoya, Round 5,2022. He pleaded guilty and was outed for 4 games. That's two years between incidents Let the NRL judiciary and integrity deal with Spencer Leniu next week and move on.
mrl
Roar Rookie
This will halt Rugby League's progress in the USA by at least four years.
BigGordon
Roar Rookie
I think it's worth more than the discussion, but somehow the NRL has to get through to guys, not only in the top grade but across all competitions, that this sort of nonsense has to stop. Maybe just this one time, the media might get on board as well so people like Gus and others help get a zero tolerance message across.
Christo A
Roar Rookie
I accept the difficulties of finding the where the line is crossed. But we do this all the time with foul play and subjective views come into play all the time. Anyhow it’s worth a discussion
astro
Roar Rookie
Great article and completely agree, Christo. I coach an U9 rugby team, and very occasionally, we'll bump into a kid or kids who say some pretty awful things on the field, for 8 and 9yr olds. If stricter rules are introduced at a professional level, those will filter down to lower levels, which is really important.
BigGordon
Roar Rookie
Sorry Christo, but what you're suggesting falls into the category of completely impossible. This might be a relatively new issue for the NRL to deal with but many organisations in Australia and around the world, have been managing this sort of problem for decades. I'm not aware of any who have come up with the sort of guidelines you're suggesting should be in place. The big problem is all about the moving feast that is abuse. To give you an example, I played junior footy with a guy nicknamed "monkey" because he had really long arms and was able to swing from the props shoulders to rake the ball in scrums. We used his nickname regularly on the field but I reckon if we said the same thing today, we'd get crucified. The other huge problem is that abuse is not for those dishing it out but for those receiving it. Players can make comments they think are perfectly innocent, yet someone could still take offence. There's only a couple of choices - players shut their traps and only open them to speak about issues directly relating to the game. Choice two is to leave things as they stad and try and do a King Solomon when cases of abuse arise - and they will, regardless if the NRL produces more guidelines.
BigGordon
Roar Rookie
"In a professional sport the participants should be expected to act professionally. " I don't disagree but we have professional fouls, which are as far from acting professionally as it's possible to get. Players deliberately cheating, knowingly breaking the laws of the game, yet we accept that as being okay.
Dutski
Roar Guru
Back in my playing days if someone was going the verbal I took it as them being beaten already. If the opposition couldn't cut it physically they'd start running their mouth instead. I wouldn't miss it if it wasn't part of the game.
Tony
Roar Guru
Wal, I've played a lot of sport over the years and always found that the guys with the big mouths had correspondingly small tickers. :happy: