NRL 2021: Why Peter V’landys won’t back down to social media trolls amid high tackle crackdown

ARLC chairman Peter V’landys has vowed not to surrender his hardline stance amid the NRL’s high tackle crackdown, despite a barrage of “awful” personal social media attacks.

ARL Commission chairman Peter V’landys. Picture: Jonathan Ng

Love him or hate him, agree with his tough talking and ambitious vision, or claim he is an agent of change who wants to alter rugby league’s “fabric” too quickly.

What can’t be disputed is Peter V’landys is the strong leader the game has been missing for decades. But his seemingly unmovable courage behind his convictions, and biggest public personae of any league chairman since Ken Arthurson, comes at a cost.

An ugly, hurtful, person-trashing cost on social media that has become a blight on our society — and the reason why I gladly signed off from Twitter some time ago.

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In a heartfelt interview, V’landys has opened up about the personal toll this week has had on him and his family as he fronts league’s war on high tackles and the risk of concussion, revealing how “awful” social media trolls “who spew out hate” have left him questioning “is this where we have come to in this world?”.

The ARL Commission chairman also vowed not to surrender to deafening clatter that has sent a tidal wave through cyberspace, with V’landys doubling down against any coaches or players who think the referees will be scared off from the Magic Round controversy.

ARL Commission chairman Peter V’landys has vowed to push on with his hardline stance on high tackles and concussion. Picture: Jonathan Ng

“The good coaches aren’t going to go on TV and yell and scream and carry on,” V’landys said. “What they are going to do is adapt.

“And what gets me with some of these people [coaches], and I don’t want to single anyone out, but surely the first thing in their mind is the welfare of their player?

“There is this thing in the game and in some elements it is a bit dangerous, and that is win at all costs. Well, there is a human cost as well.

“And people who watch it, I don’t think they want to see people being injured, and being hurt, and being flattened. They want to see hard hits, no doubt. But not to the point where someone gets badly injured for the rest of their friggin’ lives.”

‘AWFUL’ TROLLS’

V’landys said it was the game’s obligation to provide as much protection as possible for every player against concussion injuries, and that means no player should run out wearing a target.

It shouldn’t matter if it’s a superstar like James Tedesco or any one of the 480 or so contracted NRL players.

“I honestly believe that a player, once they retire, should be able to have quality of life,” V’landys said. “I want them to go and enjoy their families.

Ryan Papenhuyzen was knocked out in the Storm’s win against the Dragons. Picture: Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images

“I would be selfish if I just sat back and watched them hurt themselves like they are without taking some action.”

Asked if there had been any point this week where he privately questioned if the crackdown went too far, V’landys continued: “Not at all. Don’t get me wrong, it has been a very hard week for me. It’s been awful actually. But I know I am doing the right thing.”

He said “personal attacks” specifically are what upsets him the most.

“I don’t mind people having views but some of the abuse I have copped … it’s not for the faint-hearted,” he said. “We are all human and I am not superman. I have emotions and feelings like everyone else. And you think it doesn’t hurt you but it does.”

The worst of it came on Twitter with V’landys conceding he’s seen the impact on his family.

“I don’t know why people spew out hate,” he said. “Is this where we have come to in this world? I could sit back and do nothing and enjoy the game and watch it like everybody else.

James Tedesco has been a marked man this season. Digital art: Boo Bailey

“But I have got the power to stop it and if I didn’t I shouldn’t be there. You should kick me out. I would prefer to be kicked out for doing this than be kicked out for not doing it.”

NO APOLOGIES

It’s a strange irony that on one hand we have the Rugby League Players Association sending out a text message this week encouraging players to go public with concerns over the so-called “rule changes” and perceived lack of consultation.

Yet on the other hand we have Neil Papenhuyzen, father of Melbourne Storm fullback Ryan, encouraging the NRL to stand strong after speaking of the “gut-wrenching” feeling of what it was like to see his son viciously knocked out during Magic Round.

As Neil said: “I am 100 per cent behind what they are doing. I just hope it is not lip service.”

Then you go back to that Anzac Day game between the Roosters and St George Illawarra and listen again to what Trent Robinson said about that sickening high shot from Jordan Pereira that knocked Tedesco out.

At the time everyone was blowing up that Pereira was sin-binned and not sent off.

Then the refs make the tough calls and what happens?

But Robinson was bang on when he said that there needed to be tougher on field action, and it should not be left to the judiciary because “mums and parents” don’t watch on Tuesday night.

James Tedesco copped a heavy head knock against the Dragons. Picture: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

And that needs to be the message every coach and player takes on board before they start blowing up about the punishment being too tough for high tackles, the same tackles that have been illegal since 1908.

And forget this ridiculous argument about it being the result of fatigue because the game has become too fast. It is poor and lazy tackle technique because it has never been OK to hit a rival player in the head.

That is the start and end of this argument.

V’landys also praised the refs for having “the courage they showed last weekend”.

But they have to keep the courage up now, which will be their big test this weekend.

Sure, it wasn’t perfect in Brisbane.

But if you go back and look at every one of the sin bins and send offs in isolation, I’d argue the majority were right despite the controversy.

Yes, there’s always room for improvement, even from the players and coaches.

But at least we have now started the process of finally getting on top of this massive blight on our game which is illegal head contact.

And I also know this much after years of watching people in powerful positions at the NRL provide the ‘lip service’ Neil Papenhuyzen said he was fearing:

And that is if it wasn’t for V’landys you can bet this would have been a problem the game would have continued to store away in the too hard basket.

At least now the argument is that the punishment is too tough.

I say hallelujah for that.