A game already overshadowed by Andrew John’s racist remarks that lead to Timana Tahu leaving the Blues camp. Steve Mascord has written a great piece about the casual racism behind the “average Aussie bloke.” And people elsewhere have pointed out why is there not more fuss over the second word uttered by Johns?
Tahu’s actions were brave. He did the right thing. I’ve seen a few suggestions that Tahu should have just punched Johns in the head but that ranks with maturity as those who have called Tahu soft. As for a possible reason why Tahu did what he did, this article recounts how his stepfather was marginalised and harrassed in the NSW Police Force for standing up against racism.
Regarding accusations that Indigenous players do not get a fair go in NSW, Anthony Mundine was not one of them. He played in an era dominated by Fittler and Daley, two of the best five-eights to play the game. They may have not been able to do handstands but they sure could do other things on the field that were actually useful.
But Nathan Blacklock could be considered hard done and so could Preston Campbell, whose heart would have easily made up for his lack of size. Of the current crop, Nathan Merritt would be great in a Blues side. But he is an attacking winger and the trouble is that the Blues have a very defensive mind set at the moment. Jamie Soward is another who may start to wonder what he has to do to play Origin for NSW.
And with that it seems almost wrong to look at the game ahead but the game goes on, hopefully better after what has transpired.
The money suggest a Queensland win for good reason and I suspect it will be a trashing. But stranger things have happened in Origin.
I just don’t see a lot of points in the NSW side. They will have to hope for an arm wrestle and somehow contain Queensland. Remember what has happened it is not the fault of the NSW players . They have come out and supported Tahu and if you are from NSW, they deserve your backing.
Still, I’m not really meeting this game with anticipation. Part of it is the sense of doom that stems from the inept NSW selectors but obviously the racism row has affected the lead up to the game.
But come tomorrow night I’ll turn on the tele and hope league does what it usually does in times like this and produces an extraordinary game that reminds us all of what is good and what we love about the game.
8 responses so far ↓
Mountain Boy // Jun 16, 2010 at 1:22 pm
I disagree – and I’m not sorry for saying so. I am myself of 50% background non-caucasian. I have had to deal with racism all my life to some degree and times where you are told to go back to where you came from, even though I was born and bred here.
What I will say is that the immature and backwards way of dealing with racism is through labelling people or groups of people, reinforcing division, through various forms of violence from mere words, to push and shove, to physical violence, to the extreme of countries at war with each other.
The opposite then, the totally mature and forwards way of dealing with racism is through talking things through finding out the things that have cause people to dislike others. Finding out that separation of cultures causes a natural tribal fear that can be dissolved through better understanding. Finding ways that people share commonality in life, religion, political persuasion, and of course sport.
What Tahu did, like Mungbean before him, you will find is the immature and backwards method.
So enough of that, tonight I will celebrate a birthday along with a NSW victory. Why will they win? Its just nature doing its thing – tides turn, seasons change, droughts break just as rain clouds dry.
derrida derider // Jun 16, 2010 at 4:21 pm
Enough of the off-field distractions (yeah Johns is a clown, yeah racism is very common, yeah Tahu has guts), back to the game.
The cold fact is that Qld has had much more talented halves and backs for several years now. Your best chance against them is the traditional response to talent in the opposition. That is, select thugs and go the biff.
Since (rightly) you’re not allowed to do that openly these days, at least go for some covert biff. Paul Gallen for captain, I say.
Of course in the end it won’t make much difference – Qld will thrash them anyway. But at least we’d see some on-field fireworks to match the off-field ones.
Mountain Boy // Jun 16, 2010 at 10:31 pm
Still winter and I hear they play again next winter. Oh well, it was just a thought.
If only the towns of Kempsey (Greg Inglis) and Campbelltown (Israel Falou) meant something when it came to deciding which state a player represents in State of Origin. I think it could easily have been 5 series the other way.
gilmae // Jun 16, 2010 at 11:22 pm
You say that as if they’d have been allowed to played for NSW :- )
Shaun // Jun 16, 2010 at 11:26 pm
MB, I do want to acknowledge your first post as some great points and you speak from experience.
Happy Birthday as well but maybe not so happy after that embarrassing defeat. But if we do ever get to meet to talk footy in person I’ll gladly buy you an adult beverage of choice.
As for NSW, words almost fail. What an inept performance. An illustration of what has been wrong with this side for the past few series.
Shaun // Jun 16, 2010 at 11:41 pm
Keep Pearce. He showed enough to suggest he is a player of the future. Soward or Carney as 5/8. I’d pick Soward for his better kicking game.
Lyon and Jennings for the centres. Morris on one wing and anyone but Monoghan on the other. Monoghan should never play Origin again.
Hayne stays at fullback.
The forwards missed Watmough and Lewis. Hindy deserves to stay as he held the side together during the 1st half both in defense, cover and just keeping a cool head when others were losing theirs. Weyman stays. Gallen is another player that should never play Origin again. He is essentially the 14th players on the field for QLD with his gift penalties.
I’d bring in Kade Snowden and Tim Mannah. Both are young great players that need to be blooded now and will form part of a great Origin side.
But most of all Bellamy, Daley and the selectors need to go. They have no idea.
Shaun // Jun 16, 2010 at 11:58 pm
But congrats to one of the best sides to grace the Origin stage. A side built via patience and foresight when the future looked grim.
NSW could learn a lot from QLD and how they approached their dark times.
gilmae // Jun 17, 2010 at 9:32 pm
Tahu on the other wing.