Disrespectful Conduct

[Broncoman]

The niggle is Rugby League equivalent of sledging in cricket. It's a tactic used to put the opposition off their game and gives a chance to rub it in. Every team in the world has done this before.

 

[Porthoz]

Have to disagree with your sentiments Port. See, the thing is it didn't happen to Lockyer, it happened to Smith who hasn't the same clean nose that Locky had. As long as there are no racist/creedist/sexist/etc slurs and no physical behaviour outside the rules, he is an innovator with results. A very grubby one, yes, but has the results.

I'm not arguing the effectiveness of his methods, but I abhor anything that goes against the spirit of the sport. In fact, most of the slurs to unsettle the opposition are often of a racist, creedist and/or sexist nature, and I have no doubt Ennis won't shy away from it.
As Bull Shark said, he is a very smart operator, so it's very unlikely he will actually get caught doing it, but it doesn't make it less contemptible...

In fact, it can be argued that the grubby wrestle tactics are effective as well, but I don't think many people would actually show any respect for players who employ "chicken wings", "crushers", "head-locks" and whatever other dirty wrestle moves which came from the Bellyache Storm stable...

P.S. I do agree that Reynolds is at a whole different level of grubbiness...

 

[Porthoz]

The analogy to the Storm's Judo-inspired locks and grapples is an interesting one, and I don't disagree in theory, but in practice one is outlawed in the game and one is not, therefore apples and oranges (at this point).

These tactics are often a blight on the game, but until they are outlawed, it would be ridiculous to stop doing something that works.

Also, sledging must be performed very cleverly these days so as not to get dobbed in for anything that falls outside of the rules. Billy Slater's slurs and following debacle put everyone on notice.

Personally, I very much doubt Ennis uses racist, sexist, creedist remarks as he would have been dobbed in long before now considering how much he pisses people off. Saying anything else is purely speculation, if not defamatory.

All you have to do to piss a person off is have a go at their craft. All the yo mamma jibes are just play.

Dobbed in? How?

Do you really think that a player is gonna go to a referee and tell him that "that guy told me he expected my momma's arse to be tighter"...?

In a different sport (soccer) a while ago, we were actually taught to resist that type of slurs, because it was widely used to unsettle players and get them sent off. Many coaches actually encourage their smarter players to use such tactics.
If you really believe Ennis (or any other player) wouldn't do it, you're being gullible.

Just because it isn't strictly illegal, and to be honest, I don't know the rules well enough to say so, it absolutely goes against any fair play and ethics, besides bringing the game into disrepute (if one of those slurs happens to be caught on o microphone or video).

This is a bit like the discussion I had on Packer coming to the Broncos. Regardless of how useful he could be (and I have strong reservations on that), it would turn my stomach to see such scum wear our jersey.

I may be an idealist when it comes to this kinda of stuff, but that is the only way I can feel comfortable with myself.
That's probably why I suck at games like BHQ's Big Brother, because not even then will I "forget my integrity". :wink:

P.S. I'm not judging anyone who thinks otherwise btw.

 

[Harry Sack]

Dobbed in? How?

Do you really think that a player is gonna go to a referee and tell him that "that guy told me he expected my momma's arse to be tighter"...?

Genuine LOL moment.

 

[Anonymous person]

Sour grapes at not winning. He wouldn't have a problem if Smith was doing it.

The difference is that Smith wouldn't have done it.

 

[Ari Gold]

Ennis is a guy you love if he's on your side but hate if he's not. Still, there's nothing wrong with what he does. Don't really recall him ever doing something that jeopardized a players safety like Reynolds or Tariq Sims.

Agree that he's quite intelligent off the field too. Wouldn't surprise me if in 15 years Smith and Ennis are still going at it as rival head coaches.

 

[Kimlo]

Ennis is a bit of a dick on the field but as Ari says, when has he ever got involved in a dirty tackle? He stays strictly within the rules, unlike say Paul Gallen. He's a very smart guy and he knows he can get some of the dumber footy players to react which is an advantage, good on him I say. As Bull Shark said, patting him back and saying good one is about the perfect response because anyone who knows Ennis knows he's just doing it to be a pest and get under their skin.



Also Porthoz, maybe I am gullible but I don't think Ennis uses Racial slurs, I don't think he's that kind of guy and he certainly doesn't need to.

I remember reading somewhere that Ennis has studied the rulebook inside out, it's the kind of guy he is.

 

[gordjw]

Yeah I still quite like Ennis, and I think he's a bloke you love on your team, but hate when he's playing against you. I also love it when he gives away penalties with his stupid antics.

I'm sure he would have been outed by now if he was saying *-ist stuff though. With all the mics around the ref and the field now, it's going to be picked up by something.

Speaking of mics, what would you guys who don't like sledging be saying if there were on field mics in 1988-97? Coz I guarantee that there would have been a few Broncos involved in baiting the opposition.

 

[Porthoz]

Ennis is a bit of a dick on the field but as Ari says, when has he ever got involved in a dirty tackle? He stays strictly within the rules, unlike say Paul Gallen. He's a very smart guy and he knows he can get some of the dumber footy players to react which is an advantage, good on him I say. As Bull Shark said, patting him back and saying good one is about the perfect response because anyone who knows Ennis knows he's just doing it to be a pest and get under their skin.



Also Porthoz, maybe I am gullible but I don't think Ennis uses Racial slurs, I don't think he's that kind of guy and he certainly doesn't need to.

I remember reading somewhere that Ennis has studied the rulebook inside out, it's the kind of guy he is.

Yeah, maybe not racial slurs perse, but remember the type of men we're dealing with. It takes a fair bit to get under these blokes' skin, and a little bitchy comment here and there isn't going to cut it... nor is sarcastic wit btw, as it would fly right over most player's heads! :wink:

 

[Mr Fourex]

Genuine LOL moment.

Agree......LOL

Nice one Port, I'm going to have to remember that one. :laugh:

 

[Mr Fourex]

So one of the main talking points to emerge out of the Bulldogs upset over the Storm was Ennis patting Cam Smith on the head after Will Chambers came up with a mistake. This caused a number of people to perk up about the state of the game and the incident in general.

A few questions...

Was it really that big of an issue or just sour grapes?

Who actually had a whinge about what Ennis did? Did Cam......did Bellamy/The Storm?

 

[Big Pete]

It was Craig Bellamy who raised the issue but even the Channel 9 commentary commented on that moment saying it was disrespectful.

Normally I wouldn't think twice about it but since they even roped JT into it, I thought I'd see what everyone's opinion was on the matter. On top of that, I wanted to see what your opinions were on the Ennis/Reynolds incident from earlier and whether the target makes a difference or if there are any boundaries?

 

[Porthoz]

Who actually had a whinge about what Ennis did? Did Cam......did Bellamy/The Storm?

Bellyache did, which essentially should be reason enough to be dismissed...

 

[gordjw]

It was Craig Bellamy who raised the issue but even the Channel 9 commentary commented on that moment saying it was disrespectful.

Normally I wouldn't think twice about it but since they even roped JT into it, I thought I'd see what everyone's opinion was on the matter. On top of that, I wanted to see what your opinions were on the Ennis/Reynolds incident from earlier and whether the target makes a difference or if there are any boundaries?

I think there's blokes you wouldn't like to see it happen to. Usually they're the nicer ones themselves. Locky is a good example, from NSW maybe J/B Morris.

On the flip side, I love to see the "villains" get their comeuppance. Reynolds, Isaac Luke, Aussie Jim, Gallen, anyone from Melbourne.

In general though I have no problem with it.

 

[Morkel]

I think there's blokes you wouldn't like to see it happen to. Usually they're the nicer ones themselves. Locky is a good example, from NSW maybe J/B Morris.

On the flip side, I love to see the "villains" get their comeuppance. Reynolds, Isaac Luke, Aussie Jim, Gallen, anyone from Melbourne.

In general though I have no problem with it.

I'm really glad Manly are decimated. It might get to the point where they're 20 points behind, Ennis gets lippy, and one of them goes "**** it", thwack! He's been strutting around knowing no one would punch him, if someone did take a swat he's be essentially unprotected, it'd be so worth it.

 

[1910]

Who actually had a whinge about what Ennis did? Did Cam......did Bellamy/The Storm?

He didn't whinge, Bellamy was asked and he just said he doesn't like it and he thinks things like that are disrespectful- he pondered Gen Y and left it at that.

 

[1910]

I think the joke is on any player that still takes the bait Ennis lays out .. you've only got to listen to the way he speaks off the field to realise what a well spoken, inteligent bloke he is... Anyone with half an ounce of sense would just laugh at his on-field acting, pat him on the head and say "good one Mick" ...

Ennis' nickname at the Broncos was 'new shoes' because he was hard to wear.

 

[1910]

Funny how the attitude has changed, when Manly in the mid 90's with their frothing at the mouth, sledging with Hoppa and Toovey etc used to do these it was viewed at terrible.