The day before the season starts and instead of publicity about it being a new season and publicising the games in round one, a derby to start and a repeat of last years grand final, but all the talk in the media is Folau, his comments and the reaction to them, there are interviews from Keegan Hirst and Gareth Thomas. Its not portraying the sport in a good light when we should be building the brand as well as we can, this has become a case of shooting ourselves in the foot and is now a damage limitation exercise.
As per Wigan's salary cap breach being announced at the start of last season, this almost feels timed along with the SBW gambling stance to dfrive RL into mainstream media and conversation.
"Look at this controversial subject matter, oh by the way it's rugby league and just to mention Superleague starts back this week!" I'd like to think is the underhand way of raising the games profile, however do we think anyone has the forethought to do this at RL's top end?
There are so many things wrong with this diatribe that I don’t quite know where to start. However, can I start by pointing out that there is nothing sub ‘normal’ about being gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, non-binary or whatever other group you consider to be outside your definition of ‘normal’. The LGBT community have been persecuted for centuries for simply being different to what society considered normal. They have been killed, attacked, vilified simply for existing. Is it hardly surprising then that they suffer more mental health problems, addiction problems and higher suicide rates?
I’d really like to know the source of all your facts and figures please. I know that in my children’s school, they teach inclusion and tolerance - perhaps you should pop along to their classroom some time, I’m sure they’d enjoy discussing your views with you.
I have no doubt they have, and agree he probably does feel let down by the sport, my point was the focus on the signing of Folau has detracted from what should be a focus on the new season. I also think Keegan Hirst would rather focus on his rugby rather than having to deal with this and constantly be asked what he thinks of it.
Excellent post, thank you for the good sense, intelligence and humanity that makes this such an outstanding forum. Can I suggest that andym 1) familarises himself with the philosophy of this great club as expounded by the chairman today; and 2) be suspended from posting until he provides his sources for all these remarkable figures?
If we are truly an inclusive sport surely we have to accept that there are the likes of andym and Folau in this world. No one is being forced to agree with their views and as far as I can see they are not actually suggesting anybody should physically attack anyone else.
Yes, there are people in this world with similar views. However, whilst they continue to hold such abhorrent (to me) views, they must also accept that I (and hopefully a lot of others) will challenge those views at every opportunity. If I weren’t to challenge them, what example does that set to people who look up to me? It’s not enough to simply say ‘people have these views’, ignore them and carry on, they must be challenged and asked to substantiate their ‘facts’. I have yet to see the source of the facts/statistics stated so forcefully by andym.
I believe in equality all of us are equal. However the majority are having rubbish rammed down their throats. One example this week men should refrain from talking about sport in the workplace to not offend blah blah. What a load of tosh. The woman who said this is part of the problem.
Thanks. I have to say as a female rugby league (and sport in general) fanatic, I sometimes find it quite difficult to join in with some of the discussions as, having never actually played the game, unlike a lot of members here, if even just at schoolboy level, I don’t really think I can add much to a lot of discussions but this subject matter is, I feel, very pertinent and should be discussed.
I’ll try and join in a bit more on team selection and ticket sales from now on, see how I get on!
Last edited by notawiginfan; 30th January 2020 at 01:36. Reason: Spelling8
It is true freedom of speech is important, but there are other freedoms to consider.
Such as the freedom of sponsors to terminate contracts if it feels they devalue the brand. Whilst no law has been broken I am not sure catalan have considered this or the wider rfl.
I can see the registration being pulled pretty sharpish under some made up rule if sponsors start walking.