Grown ups, pick up your game! - By Rahma

Good morning everyone!

Today we welcome a new contributor to the @LadiesWhoLeague family. This is an interesting blog because @mary__kaye has often argued that the NRL needs to take player behaviour far more seriously. This post is the other side of the argument. Here at @LadiesWhoLeague we recognise that everyone has a different opinion and are happy to share a variety of view points. Let us know what you think of @rahmadogs post.

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Probably one of my favourite things about the NRL would be the biffs; during Origin time, especially. I believe it works up the players, it gives them that edge they need to push through the game, which is why I was so angry that the biff got banned after the Paul Gallen punch during Game 1 of Origin this year. Cries of outrage from mothers (and Queensland supporters mainly) were heard every where and for some reason - maybe because I’ve never paid too much attention before - I feel like for the first time, a fight on the field blew up and was turned into a big deal.

 

Again, other things such as the Josh Dugan incident and Blake Ferguson incident had people shouting “think of the children!” And this made me stop and think… Why does every incident or issue with a NRL player get turned around on them and suddenly they’re blacklisted as “bad role models”? This upsets me.

 
Why? Well mainly because, well really, at the end of the day these players are human and honestly, they’re going to stuff up and make their mistakes. Some stupider than others *eyes out Ferguson and Dugan* but really, they’re human; they’re going to do stupid things, costly to their careers sadly enough, but to point your finger and shame them as bad role models? I don’t like that at all. Same with the biffs in the games. Players are going to fight on field (while I don’t support off field fights) and we can’t really stop it. Not really. But sadly we have, and the biffs have been banned and really, the game doesn’t feel the same to me anymore. Sin binning players because of they got a little too passionate just isn’t right. Look what happened during Game 2 when four players got sin binned; it just kind of killed the game, and this was all because people complained too much about the influence this has on children.

Parents need to understand that these football players are not role models, nor is it their job to raise your child. That is yours, as a parent, to teach them what is right and what is wrong. Can they look to these players as inspirations on field with their playing? Yes, most certainly. They can aspire to play like a certain player but when this player does wrong, it is your job to explain to them why is was wrong and why they should NOT do what the player did. Now, I know I’m not a parent, and I understand that it’s really difficult especially trying to explain to your child why a player did not get punished accordingly (for example both Dugan and Ferguson have returned to playing after their incidents) but really you should be sitting your child down and explaining to them that in reality, they will get punished accordingly for fighting or drinking or assaulting someone. In the end of the day, YOU raise your child, YOU are their parent. Not the footy players. They should be learning off you, and YOU should be teaching them. This “role model” label has gotten out of hand, in my opinion.

Your thoughts?

 

Love,

 

@LadiesWhoLeague