Hi Nick, Thanks for the article. I just wanted to thank you for your effort and time writing this. I’m an Aussie from Canberra & Rugby tragic, not lived in Australia for 23 years now, but still follow the Brumbies and the Wallabies with a passion.

With the Wallabies, it’s like living in a state of deja vu schizophrenic despair, watching them one minute show promise, even win well and the next we see a performance like Bledisloe 2. Poor discipline, poor skills, poor decision making, poor selection … poor ad infinitum. Just excruciating, to the point it’s really unwatchable and not worth my time.

Then I read one of your articles, learn something about Rugby, and somehow go away with a renewed sense of interest and optimism. It’s a rare talent you have, it’s as much to do with the articles and your Rugby nous as your engagement with the comments, which makes it really feel like it’s a discussion and not just a read.

Thanks Nick, so much! And I’m now fired up for the game against France on Saturday.

Tim, thanks for the interesting article, I think the press conferences are fine as they are, but we should have more compassion & support for the coaches, instead of expecting perfection.
I know I’m late to the party here, but I think the recent sad news yesterday adds weight to your argument. While we don’t know the circumstances, the pressure on coaches can be immense. We should all take a bit more care with what we say.
Everyone here so eager to vilify and destroy Ricky for his behaviour, I think should have a rethink. We’re all so eager to vilify and destroy public figures who make mistakes, I’m disgusted with some of the comments and frankly ashamed to be a Roarer. How much is enough, calling for them to lose their jobs, what’s next destroy their families, destroy their lives?
Make a mistake (which he most clearly did, no question!), apologise, take the punishment, learn from it and move on. The rest of us, not in the public eye, have some perspective, get off the moral crusade high-horses.
Don’t forget all the charity work he does, he’s most clearly not a bad human, I know many, many worse people than Ricky. He’s flawed, as are all of us no doubt. The eagerness with which we seem to want to destroy people makes me feel sick.

Yeah, I put a lot of thought into my replies and discussion. In fact, I’m more than likely to be, at least in part, wrong. We have different definitions and ideas on cancel culture, perhaps mine is wrong. Who’s to say. I’ve already said further back, I regret brining it up.

Anyway, one sentence replies, focusing on a single point, with demands for more justification? Nah.

Yeah, we’ve not heard from the players, is my only point. We’ve got the media telling us what their reasons are, but it’s all inferred. That said, I agree with you for the most part, I think they would have a hard time articulating their objection to the jersey without sounding bigoted.

If someone has a problem with being called a bigot or homophobe, stopping saying and doing homophobic things…

I think my issue with that, was more a response to Grey-Hand who made, what I took was a backhanded inference, that I was homophobic for suggesting there might be elements of cancel culture here. At least that’s how it reads. Heck, I shouldn’t be so sensitive lol

Anyway, enough, looking forward to some footy again, and for what it’s worth, I hope Many win, not cos of this fiasco, I just hate the Roosters!

I’d argue that it’s equally the people calling others homophobic or bigots that’s getting “each other all riled up”. So easy to just drop a hate-slur on someone you disagree with, it’s the cheap way out.

Interesting isn’t it, everyone so sure they’re right and others are wrong. I actually think it’s mostly a matter of perspective. In a way, it’s good, the discussion here has been all mostly good natured, I guess the mods have had their hands full!

I think it’s semantics but I get your point. Plenty here are calling for them to be sacked, and I think there’s more to cancel culture than just erasure.

Anyway, the thread here wasn’t about cancel culture, it’s something I think is reprehensible, and it was my choice to bring it up here and I can see i’ve sidelined the main point. If we don’t agree, that’s fine, I’ll withdraw.

Would be easier to discuss over a beer I think 😊

Barry, I’m new to the Roar, have always respected you for making intelligent and thoughtful comments on the game.

So no offence taken, almost nothing offends me, I grew up in a time when we didn’t ‘cancel’ people for saying something we didn’t like. Cancel culture by the way, something along the lines of “publicly rejecting, boycotting, or ending support for particular people or groups because of their perceived socially/morally unacceptable view/actions” . So on that point, you and I disagree, this is cancel culture in its finest. A whole other topic, but it’s a cancer and sickness, that will ultimately do more harm than good.

To the main point, I think I’m explaining myself badly, I’m trying to point out this isn’t as black and white as we’re making out here. I’m for inclusiveness, but have a bit of an issue with the forced flag waving for the whatever cause the marketing department’s decide is ‘good for the image’. That does not make me a bigot (well that’s what I say anyway). But if I expressed a view, that I’m not for the jersey, that’s what I’d be called, homophobic and a bigot. How did we get to that?

And don’t get me started on religion, if I had my way, everything in our society from schools through to politics and sport would be 100% secular. The folks who want to practice their faith, of course free to do so, but keep it out of everyone else’s face.

Reading your post above again, perhaps it’s about religion and its impact in people & behaviour, more so than attacking these players. Religious beliefs do in deed need to be questioned, and there’s plenty of intelligent people who’ve done so, including my personal favourite (the deceased) Christopher Hitchens.

If so, hell, maybe I’m agreeing with you to a large degree 👍

Appreciate your point & I think it’s a valid one. All I’m saying, just because someone doesn’t want to be forced to be a flag waver/bearer for a particular cause, it does not make them bigots. We’d need to know more about them. Right now we’ve only got the media telling us what these guys think.

With the amount of vitriol being shown here and in the media, I honestly think, we’re in danger of being bigots ourselves. I’m just urging a bit of a step back, think about this more than pro vs against inclusivity. I think it’s deeper than that, and at its heart it’s about understanding and tolerance. You don’t teach someone something by destroying them. Well you can, but surely there’s a better way.

Otherwise, to me this is just another manifestation of the cancer of the 2020’s ‘cancel culture’, don’t like what someone says, or thinks, just have them sacked, kicked out, silenced, canceled. Surely, we’re bigger than that. Play the long game, educate, teach, encourage. Let’s be better humans.

Anyway, I’ll leave it there, it’s such an explosive topic, I risk the ire of many even for speaking out and asking for calm. I don’t condone bigotry, on the contrary I’m asking for tolerance here.

Be kind to each other.

I didn’t necessarily infer those who objected to wearing the jersey were bigots. They might be, but let’s not assume so

And, oh the irony, this was all about inclusion, and now these players have been vilified and excluded. Well done Manly.

For the record, I support inclusion; but have different views about how that support should be manifest. It’s a shame all this has become so polarized, it will only lead to more hate, it’s not the answer.

On the top 8 refereeing point, I
didn’t see the game, on holiday overseas seeing family and friends I’ve not seen for 3 years cos of stupid covid, will catch a reply on Kayo when I get home on Tuesday.

What did people make of the sin bin for Rapana, vs only a “on report” for Nelson? Seems hard to figure for me; but I can only see the reply on an phone right now.

Also; did anyone watch the game and can explain the 6-0 6-more count to the storm? Really?! Was there not a single storm infringement the entire 80 mins?

It was a bit of a cricket score, not exactly entertaining, if you’re expecting to watch a game of rugby league.

Agree, this article and some of the comments, it’s revisionist history. Or maybe people just didn’t watch replays and are taking Freddie’s “gee Burton’s a nice guy he’d never start a fight” at face value.
At worst Burton instigated it by running over a prone Ponga. If we don’t buy that; then at worst it’s a push from Gagai and both of them are throwing punches and connecting.
Both go to the bin, penalty for the push. Justice done.

I’m from Canberra, so technically not a QLD supporter, though find myself rooting for them more often than not, cos of the apparent arrogance shown by the NSW dominated press and players. Or maybe it’s just love for the 80’s & 90’s with all the QLD’ers that were in the Raiders side of the day.

But on Perth, I felt strongly the game was tilted by the referee changing the way he ruled the game from game 1, after Fittler had a ‘private chat’ with him. The 6’mores and the sin-bin, appeared out of nowhere.

Mysteriously, we were mostly back to game 1 refereeing yesterday. So I don’t think NSW were that good in Perth, they had a minor edge, blown out by the sin-bin and I honestly believe, thought they were better than they were. So the blow out score in Perth may have done QLD a favour really.

And I still cannot understand why Freddie didn’t play Wighton, the best from NSW in game 1. That’s bizarre.

Of course, now we have Freddie Fiddler deflecting and talking about the fight and sin-bins, which I thought was well handled by the ref, instead of his questionable selection decisions.
Gagai definitely got the best of Burton game-wise as well as in the scuffle 😛 Burton is over-rated IMHO.
Respectfully Geoff, anyone who throws punches, gets binned, it’s been the case in the NRL since the no-punch rules. They never just bin the the one who started it. And I’m not sure there wasn’t something missed in the lead-up to that, the channel 9 coverage didn’t show the 30 seconds leading up to the fight, suspect that Burton was involved in something. Not sure.

Didn’t think Teddy was 9/10. I thought he had an average game, energizer bunny stuff, but mostly ineffective, a 7/10 only.

Too many Panthers in the NSW side, perhaps a little too comfortable with each other for an Origin decider in QLD. And Freddie left Wighton, arguably best of NSW for game 1, off the field for most of the game.

I think Freddie got fooled, by the easy win in Perth on the back of some questionable refereeing.

Regardless, Great game! No shame in losing today.

What a game, strange selections from Freddie, leaving arguably the best of NSW (Wighton) off the field for most of the game. And the overload of Penrith players, perhaps a little too comfortable with each other to be able to switch it up for an Origin decider. Still, the better team won regardless, QLD were immense.
As for the QLD player ratings, I’d up Gagai‘s score for getting the better of over-rated Burton. He got some good ones in there ????

I don’t know about his wit, not seen much more than him complaining about people he doesn’t like or respect (eg Kyrgios). But that’s fine. Maybe I only notice negative posts, might be me!
Each to their own, no problem with it really.
I think the point, some took issue with, was his ridicule/belittling of those who had alternative views. We don’t need that.
Banana

Didn’t think you’d understand, it’s a classic problem with haters, someone calls them out, they double down with more abuse and more anger.
You never did mention your life achievements, he’s made the mens final at Wimbledon and gave a decent shot beating probably the best mens player of all-time. Remember you’re the one that made yourself look silly, trivialising that as an achievement.
Your crowning glory? Snide, abusive, sarcastic comments on a sports news site. lol I think what you’re missing, with your rather vile ranting here, perhaps you’re more like Kyrgios than you realise. Only he just got a million quid pay check.
I’ll leave you to it bro, keep hating if it helps you feel good about yourself.
Bill

I donno, sitting here on the Roar behind our keyboards, in the safety of our homes, behind anonymous user names that don’t expose our lives or those of our families, making derogatory comments about others achievements, I don’t feel that’s too classy either Marty.

We don’t have to like Nick, or even respect him or his behaviour – don’t watch his matches is fine. Implying he ‘goes to water’ under pressure and folds, I didn’t see it that way, he was in the match right to the end. Surely, it’s foolish to criticise the achievement of a mens final at Wimbledon! Yesterday’s match, Djokovic was too good, no question but Nick wasn’t a million miles away either. Not bad at all.

Check his post-game interview Google it, I donno I must be made differently, I see a flawed human with issues that admits his faults and is trying to be better. I loved the way he faces up to his own shortcomings and his honestly and the way he deals with the smart ass media.

Stop letting your hate get in the way of facts. Or keep hating, that’s up to you, haters usually going to hate and when you find out more about them, they’re just as miserable and screwed up as everyone else. They kinda hide behind their hate and disrespect of others.

Bill