Media attention and public interest are realities of playing in the NRL, writes Paul Kent
THE NRL is in the entertainment business and players need to accept media attention and public interest are an industry reality, writes Paul Kent.
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THE answers sought in The Case of the Fallen Idol are where did the fall begin and what could have been done to stop it.
Kieran Foran began the season as the game’s poster child. Parramatta’s saviour. Reputation flawless.
It is impossible to believe he slipped through without others noticing.
The more plausible option is too many close to him turned a blind eye to his poor decisions, prepared to allow him his indulgences while ever he continued playing breathtaking football.
Almost certainly it fell apart in increments, which is what made it so difficult to intervene.
This is not isolated to Foran.
There have been others in the game who began walking down a dangerous path.
There are others right now.
It is an uncomfortable conversation the game must have.
Foran’s former teammate Daly Cherry-Evans said on Thursday that Foran should be left alone to deal with his problems. Wayne Bennett said similar. Laurie Daley was another.
In a perfect world they are completely correct. Problem is, the world’s not perfect.
Right now Foran should be given every consideration. But the unwillingness to have the difficult conversation in clubland might be where this all started and how it got out of control and why it can be avoided.
Coaches and clubs have a strong belief in their ability to fix a problem without outside knowledge. They succeed often enough for them to happily continue.
It is just, when it comes unstuck, it is often in spectacular, all damaging fashion.
There has to be a smarter way. There has to be more tough love. Truth is, clubs are not necessarily producing better men — they are just getting them through to the end of their careers before shaking their hands and sending them off into a big world often ill-equipped to handle it.
Look at Foran.
To argue that Foran is a footballer and his lifestyle, which affects his performance, should be off limits is out of touch.
Media attention and public interest are an industry reality in the NRL. It can’t be escaped.
To argue that businessmen don’t face similar intrusions is irrelevant. What is certain is if they can’t handle the stresses of their job as a reality of their job they inevitably find other employment. Or are made to.
Entertainers face the same pressures as footballers. Again, either live with it or make coffee for a living.
It is no point arguing the NRL could or should reduce the increasing media coverage and publicity surrounding the game for the protection of players. The NRL is in the entertainment business.
Foran’s $1.2 million salary is paid from the $2 billion broadcast rights deal, passed on to Parramatta by the NRL.
Clubs generate their operating money from ticket sales, memberships, sponsorships and leftover grant money from the broadcast rights. All four income streams are driven by public interest and reputation. That is the reality of life in the NRL. They are tied to it.
Yet players still argue about their “right to have a beer” and fight hard to protect that right when criticised following drunken incidents that embarrass the game.
If it is about playing the game without such responsibility, go play for Woy Woy.
There is a reluctance to accept the job reality. It is often supported by coaches keen to retain the support of the playing group — and stay employed — so they naturally support the players’ complaints.
Steve is a mate of mine. He is a fireman. The average fireman earns about $75,000 a year and for that he runs into burning buildings and often puts his life at great risk.
He is randomly tested for drugs and alcohol at work, same as an NRL player.
Nigel, another mate of mine, works in the mines. He is breath-tested each morning before he is allowed on site. Fail once, you get sent home and a written warning follows.
Three weeks ago the entire site at Liddell was blanket tested for drugs and alcohol.
It is an industry reality they accept. For miners and firemen, for policemen and paramedics, it is safety.
For NRL players, it is image.
Different motivation, same requirement.
Steve is a little confused the way some NRL players resist basic standards.
“If it is in your contract that that’s what you do, then that’s what you do,” he said. “And why would you do anything to impede your performance?”
For him, attacking a burning building with a hangover could end in a decision that sees him or a workmate die.
He is not prepared to take that risk.
Lives are not at stake with NRL players, but livelihoods are.
And we are making it worse, not better, by constantly placating and mollycoddling players against their best interests.
The solution is an understanding of how the real world works, exposure to people like Steve and Nigel and real life pressures we all face, which inevitably shape us.
It sounds nice to cocoon players and protect them.
The truth is when they discover the real world reality they are ill-equipped to handle it.
Everything I have heard about Foran is he would be in a better place if somebody taught him to say no.
If they didn’t indulge his decisions because, hey, that’s Kieran Foran and he can play footy like few men can.
JUST ANSWER THE QUESTION— Ken Rosewall, tennis legend
All eyes are on Novak Djokovic after winning the Australian and French Opens, can he finally complete the Grand Slam?
He has got a great record on these surfaces. He doesn’t lose much. He plays well on every surface.
Do you see any hope for a hungry Australian audience?
Very slim. Bernard (Tomic) was very honest in saying he was exhausted after five sets on the grass..
How do you suffer so much going out to five sets?
Well now they save themselves, whereas 20 years ago we played every event, singles and doubles. Then you’d be tired if you happened to win both matches and were still in the tournament.
About Bernard Tomic’s “retard” comment, is it time he grew up?
Everybody goes through situations like that, waiting around or scheduling, it’s a matter of putting up with it. Nobody is ever happy to be standing around waiting.
That shot Kyrgios did between his legs, did you ever do anything like that?
(Laughing) No. It’s all right to say the equipment is bigger and you get more speed off the face of the racquet, I don’t know whether that was possible with the smaller racquets in my day, but he has done that a lot now. He seems to know what he is doing.
A GOOD WEEK FOR
THE legacy of James Ackerman, the Sunshine Coast footballer who died tragically from a shoulder charge last year, continues. Sportswear maker Madison has joined with the Ackerman family to launch new headgear for league players. All proceeds go to Donate Life, of which Ackerman was a big supporter. His organs and tissue have helped more than 20 people since his passing.
A ROUGH WEEK FOR
IT should not surprise anyone that Sally Pearson has declared her Olympic career is far from over despite a hamstring injury ruling her out, at 29, of next month’s Games in Rio. Athletes are better for longer these days, with better training and rehab, so the thought of a 33-year-old hurdler still being the fastest in the world is far from absurd.
DON’T MISS
THE Waratahs head to the Land of the Rising Sun to take on the Sunwolves on Saturday (Fox Sports 2, 3.15pm) hoping to give their Super Rugby finals hopes a similar ray of hope. While they will score plenty of points, it’s the bonus points they desperately covet.
CHILL PILLS
Michael Phelps became the first swimmer to qualify for five Olympics this week and will swim the 200m butterfly in Rio. It has been a loooong comeback, but if anybody could do it ...
ANGRY PILLS
Meanwhile, Michael Diamond’s fallout with the AOC ends a remarkable run of six straight Olympic Games for the former gold medallist. He’ll be back.
Originally published as Media attention and public interest are realities of playing in the NRL, writes Paul Kent
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