NEWS Wayne: it's absolute bullshit

[Big Pete]

Bennett tried to poach Walker in 2016.

I remember everybody was confused with the signing since Brisbane had Milford/Hunt - it was the first sign Bennett wasn't satisfied with the combination and was considering other alternatives.

At the time, no Broncos fan would have considered trading Milford for Walker, now I'd imagine a fair majority would want to.

 

[Locky888]

I think the Broncos management already made up their minds they were going to sack Bennett and were waiting for a smoking gun. Whether management knew the smoking gun was true or not is debatable but it gave them a strong excuse to dissolve their obligation to pay out Bennett's final year.

 

[abashii]

I think the Broncos management already made up their minds they were going to sack Bennett and were waiting for a smoking gun. Whether management knew the smoking gun was true or not is debatable but it gave them a strong excuse to dissolve their obligation to pay out Bennett's final year.

Yep, and they did it in the most fucked way possible to save a few hundred grand. I guess prudent financial management means blowing up the only product of a 35 million dollar company over a personal feud few hundred thousand dollars, a third of which went back into executive pockets as bonuses. At least White didn't have the hide to give himself a 200k cash bonus for performance in 2018.

 

[McHunt]

Wayne on Cody Walker:
"Cody has all the skills ... the speed, the hands, the pass, the footwork and the instinctive nature of how he plays. Cody has the magic of Indigenous genes. I love watching Indigenous athletes, they have been great boxers, AFL players, runners, rugby league and rugby union players. The thing that Cody Walker does and the thing Latrell Mitchell (Souths teammate) does, you know they have done it in the backyards of Casino and Taree. You know that’s what they have been brought up doing."

Call me racist all you like, but I've been on about this for a while. I'd like to see more Aboriginal kids coming up through our ranks. Wayne is right: when they're good, it's like they're magic. But they can need some TLC, some fathering, and to feel like they're coming into a family, which is Wayne's superpower. And not Seibold's. Why don't we have half a dozen kids from the sticks putting pressure on our halves?

 

[Locky888]

Yep, and they did it in the most fucked way possible to save a few hundred grand. I guess prudent financial management means blowing up the only product of a 35 million dollar company over a personal feud few hundred thousand dollars, a third of which went back into executive pockets as bonuses. At least White didn't have the hide to give himself a 200k cash bonus for performance in 2018.

By saving a million dollars on Bennett they're going to lose up to $3-4 million if Seibold gets the sack.

 

[Dazza 92]

Call me racist all you like, but I've been on about this for a while. I'd like to see more Aboriginal kids coming up through our ranks. Wayne is right: when they're good, it's like they're magic. But they can need some TLC, some fathering, and to feel like they're coming into a family, which is Wayne's superpower. And not Seibold's. Why don't we have half a dozen kids from the sticks putting pressure on our halves?

Hope this is taken in the right context;

1 thing ive noticed with almost 50% of NRL players of Polynesian descent or soemthing, i have seen that on the field, when things are going against their team, they dont generally give their temamates a rev up, they dont gather the team around them under the posts and lay down the law..

Its not part of their culture; especially speaking out or against those senior to them...

I think the fact we sux this year means ive seen this a lot from our group of Polynesions

Its not a character flaw, im not marking them out specifically for criticism but its a fact...

I dunno where im going with this....lets just call it a observation and get on with our lives...

 

[McHunt]

Hope this is taken in the right context;

1 thing ive noticed with almost 50% of NRL players of Polynesian descent or soemthing, i have seen that on the field, when things are going against their team, they dont generally give their temamates a rev up, they dont gather the team around them under the posts and lay down the law..

Its not part of their culture; especially speaking out or against those senior to them...

I think the fact we sux this year means ive seen this a lot from our group of Polynesions

Its not a character flaw, im not marking them out specifically for criticism but its a fact...

I dunno where im going with this....lets just call it a observation and get on with our lives...

Yes, the Polynesian factor is a big issue in Rugby League and has been for at least a decade. The Broncos is now around 50% Polynesian heritage, last time I looked at such things. I remember a talent scout telling me more than ten years ago he'd been instructed to look harder for Anglo kids because they were already worried they'd be driven out of the game by bigger faster Islanders.

He said you couldn't point to any particular player and suggest he should never have been given his jersey based on his ancestry, or that you could ignore their merit, but in the bigger picture if the makeup of your game is massively skewed away from the makeup of your community, you stand the risk of losing your grassroots. Unfortunately, we're already at that point.

Ideally, rather than not pick them - when they clearly deserve the opportunity - the better option would be to make room for everyone. Which is why if we're going to expand the NRL, the most logical direction would be to create Polynesian-based teams, playing most/all of their home games somewhere along the Coast between Sydney and Townsville.

I think having teams that identify with one of the Islands, or region, might also address some of your concerns about the culture - which I can't speak to with authority, but it's not the first time I've heard the theory. It's definitely a pattern in Rugby, going back to the early HK 7's. Teams like Fiji would be the most entertaining, seemingly the most talented, but would end up getting whipped by boring, disciplined Australian sides.

Back to the subject of indigenous players, conversely I think it's massively healthy for Australia to have positive role models and success stories from this community. Infinitely more persuasive than BLM protests.

 

[Dazza 92]

maybe the point i was trying to make was; might be worth the effort to diversify a playing roster a bit more.....get some fiery English/Scottish/Irish descendants in there to ensure someone at elast wont shy away from speaking hard truths to the Polynesian guys (and whoever else in on the team for that matter)..

In a team sport like this, that introverted nature is not helping us get out of our own self inflicted hole

Cuts the other way too; watch the Tongans or Fiji play Test matches recently....when they are enjoying themsleves they are quite unstoppable

 

[abashii]

By saving a million dollars on Bennett they're going to lose up to $3-4 million if Seibold gets the sack.

To top it all off they didn't even save a million on Wayne, he threatened legal action and the Broncos ended up stumping up several hundred thousand for his likeness rights or similar as a way to make it go away while saving face. It's pretty embarrassing when you can't even rob an old man properly.

 

[McHunt]

LOL

 

[theshed]

I really just want to call the comments about Polynesian players retarded and move on, but I won’t do that because retarded is offensive. So instead I’ll try and address it with as little effort is possible.

Firstly, I could list a bunch of players of colour who do rev up their teams consistently, or definitely do not appear to be scared to speak up. TPJ, RTS, Benji, Taupau, SBW, Glenn, JWH, Andrew Fifita, any one with the last name Hopoate, the Sims, Josh McGuire; Thurston, Inglis, Hodges, we could go on for days.

Not to mention poor bashful Tongan TPJ just called a billionaire to either give him shit about selling his shares, or to try and broker a deal. Doesn’t sound too concerned about being respectful.

Secondly I could point to the NBA as an example where the player demographic isn’t representative of the population and how no one who isn’t a bitter white guy thinks that this has damaged the product. Has African American domination ruined grassroots basketball in America? Maybe for white kids. Sport is the ultimate meritocracy, it doesn’t matter what you look like, be the best and you’ll succeed.

Finally, and most importantly. South Korean airlines used to have a horrible reputation for safety. They had too many avoidable crashes but now they are the industry standard for safety. What was happening is that Korean culture had such respect for hierarchy that the co-pilots would not speak up and correct or talk back to their seniors. This lead to many avoidable accidents due to communication break downs. So they trained these very capable pilots to be more assertive and set up distinct communication procedures. Basically they taught polite Korean pilots to be bigger ***** to their co-workers to stop their planes from falling out of the sky due to manners. As I said, now Korean pilots are considered some of the best in the world.

I bring this up because any decent development pathway that thinks this is an actual issue would train poly boys to be more assertive and better communicators. Set up a team culture where not only is speaking up tolerated but encouraged and accepted. It’s far more logical in the long run to take the countries best athletes and develop them to be more out spoken, than it is to find outgoing kids and hope they become supreme athletes.

I’d hazard a guess that these persisting racially biased views about whites being better leaders, smarter players, less flashy but more reliable, leads to scenarios where young islander kids are being overlooked for leadership roles and therefor never develop those skills.

Anyway, there’s no way I’m bothering to proof read this so good luck with my typos and grammatical errors. Us coloured posters are flashy but if you want a poster who does the 1%ers and proof reads his posts you’re gonna need a white guy.

 

[McHunt]

I really just want to call the comments about Polynesian players retarded and move on, but I won’t do that because retarded is offensive. So instead I’ll try and address it with as little effort is possible.

I hope you understood what I was saying was not a slight on Polynesian players or culture, but a conundrum expressed by scouts who are worried Rugby League is dying because parents of white kids - who make up the bulk of our population - are putting their kids in other sports. And the only solution I can see is making sure everyone can get a go, not stopping kids from being selected or getting an opportunity.

 

[Dazza 92]

good points made...again i strived to put it in the correct context

My points were for the Broncs...you have pointed out other players from other clubs, NBA ect..

Out of scope for the point i was making...Broncos only (mostly..)

But...glad you posted what you did....this is definately a debate that requires balance and honest input.

And i love all our indigenous boys, islanders, white trash etc....

Its also clear that Siebs hasnt/cannot adapt to a roster thats full of different cultural backgrounds, nor has he shown he can adapt...at all....to anything...

 

[McHunt]

maybe the point i was trying to make was; might be worth the effort to diversify a playing roster a bit more.....get some fiery English/Scottish/Irish descendants in there to ensure someone at elast wont shy away from speaking hard truths to the Polynesian guys (and whoever else in on the team for that matter)..

With respect, I strongly dislike the concept of token hire under the auspice of "diversity." I think it served its purpose for a short time to send a message to blokes who didn't think sheilas could do a bloke's job, so they wouldn't enrol in STEM courses, for example, but I think that era has now passed, and we've overstepped.

The goal is for equal opportunity, not to be confused with equal outcome, with merit being the qualifier. So if that means 100% Polynesian, so be it. In which case, we need more teams. Because if parents are encouraging their kids to play AFL or soccer, chances are that's what they'll be watching on TV twenty years down the track.

 

[Santa]

I really just want to call the comments about Polynesian players retarded and move on, but I won’t do that because retarded is offensive. So instead I’ll try and address it with as little effort is possible.

Firstly, I could list a bunch of players of colour who do rev up their teams consistently, or definitely do not appear to be scared to speak up. TPJ, RTS, Benji, Taupau, SBW, Glenn, JWH, Andrew Fifita, any one with the last name Hopoate, the Sims, Josh McGuire; Thurston, Inglis, Hodges, we could go on for days.

Not to mention poor bashful Tongan TPJ just called a billionaire to either give him shit about selling his shares, or to try and broker a deal. Doesn’t sound too concerned about being respectful.

Secondly I could point to the NBA as an example where the player demographic isn’t representative of the population and how no one who isn’t a bitter white guy thinks that this has damaged the product. Has African American domination ruined grassroots basketball in America? Maybe for white kids. Sport is the ultimate meritocracy, it doesn’t matter what you look like, be the best and you’ll succeed.

Finally, and most importantly. South Korean airlines used to have a horrible reputation for safety. They had too many avoidable crashes but now they are the industry standard for safety. What was happening is that Korean culture had such respect for hierarchy that the co-pilots would not speak up and correct or talk back to their seniors. This lead to many avoidable accidents due to communication break downs. So they trained these very capable pilots to be more assertive and set up distinct communication procedures. Basically they taught polite Korean pilots to be bigger ***** to their co-workers to stop their planes from falling out of the sky due to manners. As I said, now Korean pilots are considered some of the best in the world.

I bring this up because any decent development pathway that thinks this is an actual issue would train poly boys to be more assertive and better communicators. Set up a team culture where not only is speaking up tolerated but encouraged and accepted. It’s far more logical in the long run to take the countries best athletes and develop them to be more out spoken, than it is to find outgoing kids and hope they become supreme athletes.

I’d hazard a guess that these persisting racially biased views about whites being better leaders, smarter players, less flashy but more reliable, leads to scenarios where young islander kids are being overlooked for leadership roles and therefor never develop those skills.

Anyway, there’s no way I’m bothering to proof read this so good luck with my typos and grammatical errors. Us coloured posters are flashy but if you want a poster who does the 1%ers and proof reads his posts you’re gonna need a white guy.

Dude what a post.

 

[Dazza 92]

With respect, I strongly dislike the concept of token hire under the auspice of "diversity." I think it served its purpose for a short time to send a message to blokes who didn't think sheilas could do a bloke's job, so they wouldn't enrol in STEM courses, for example, but I think that era has now passed, and we've overstepped.

The goal is for equal opportunity, not to be confused with equal outcome, with merit being the qualifier. So if that means 100% Polynesian, so be it. In which case, we need more teams.

oh yeh...i also dont want token hires either...

And if we end up 100% Polynesian then thats fine; lets find though leaders like Theshed said; the next Benji, the next RTS etc...

Its a key miss in our roster make up. McGuire was a weekend warrior, do i care how he trained thorugh the week? Nah...i cared what he did in 80 minutes on the weekend

Pies thought different, moved him on....ironically now he is the type most posters here are screaming we need to bring in!

So more diversity is what i want; i think its needed right now for us....can we say personalities regardless of race, colour or creed?

 

[McHunt]

So more diversity is what i want; i think its needed right now for us....can we say personalities regardless of race, colour or creed?

So I'll go one further against the concept of "diversity" and say it might sound utopian but it's the exact opposite of what I want from a sporting team. I want to feel part of a tribe. I like to see a glue that binds. That's why Origin is so fun. It's why clubs can retain a fanbase through years of shit. They feel like they're in it together.

The Storm is the best example of a team that hires purely on merit. And sure, it's successful as all hell, but is it a tribe? Maybe it is, but I'm fucked if I know who their fans are. The Big Bash is an example of a bunch of mercenaries with zero ties to their brand.

I'd rather a Broncos team that's mostly QLDers, and those who aren't from QLD, kind of become honorary QLDers regardless. Like Lazarus and Johns. Most of these kids we're calling "Polynesian" these days are raised in QLD, so it's not like they're being excluded.

We officially hit rock bottom when our best candidate for captain has a Kiwi accent. But I'll give him a free pass as an honorary QLDer.

 

[IceWorks]

I hope you understood what I was saying was not a slight on Polynesian players or culture, but a conundrum expressed by scouts who are worried Rugby League is dying because parents of white kids - who make up the bulk of our population - are putting their kids in other sports. And the only solution I can see is making sure everyone can get a go, not stopping kids from being selected or getting an opportunity.

Yeh interesting one. Equality of opportunity is not the same thing as equality of outcome however. Just think of basketball, swimming..sprinting... and so on.

My experience with a year of junior rugby league in Brisbane recently was that it might be better going back to what I experienced in junior teams in the 70's... play by weight division rather than age... otherwise I don't see much of an issue with representation really, if Aboriginal and Islander kids are going to dominate then so be it. I think the big issue, and the reason leagues is losing out, is the direction from those at the top of the rugby league tree in this country.. they aren't losing to other sports for any other reason than the leadership sucks compared with rival sports, I just look at how the AFL has expanded in recent decades and how rugby league hasn't.