With so much great footy going on, I was keen to offer my thoughts on a few of the games. However, I think in recent few weeks an ugly issue has raised its ugly head and it seems like it’s been ignored.
The language of sport reflects the values and virtues of pride, persistence, selflessness, teamwork commitment and humility. Allowing foul language of any description by an NRL player tears these virtues down.
One of the game’s superstars who obviously is unable to carry the burden of being a role model, repeatedly used foul language during a recent radio interview after a game. Call me old-fashioned, but it was nothing short of an absolute disgrace. Who does he think he is?
I’m sure he is absolutely adored by hundreds of thousands of kids because he is a good player. But any excuse offered suggesting he was emotional, tired, it was a spur of the moment slip or whatever is rubbish.
As a matter of fact, I’m surprised his comments escaped the wrath of the NRL. Maybe if these remarks were made by a young player early in his NRL career we would have seen a sizable fine dished out.
Most parents would not allow that sort of language to come from their kids and those same parents must be scratching their heads saying what is going on with the NRL’s standards of behaviour.
I fully understand that there are times when players become extremely frustrated, and I have witnessed it at every level of the game during my coaching career. But I don’t think I’ve ever heard such trash come from a players’ mouth during any sort of media interview.
The tolerance given to this player by the NRL has really surprised me and I just don’t get it. What will be allowed next?
