Ryan Papenhuyzen says majority of NRL players would have faced death threats from disgruntled gamblers
Backing up AFL star Mitch Robinson’s revealing tweet on disgruntled gamblers in sport, Ryan Papenhuyzen has spoken about how he and other athletes have become targets.
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Storm star Ryan Papenhuyzen has called on the elite sporting administrators to “crack down” on disgruntled gamblers that target players with death threats and abuse on social media.
Papenhuyzen opened up about the toll the regular social media attacks have on players.
It comes after the star fullback endorsed a tweet from Brisbane Lions midfielder Mitch Robinson lashing “idiot” punters.
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“Not one AFL player gives a flying f*** how we cost you a $100 multi, it’s $5 bet you idiot,” Robinson posted on Twitter.
“If you’re struggling with that amount please don’t punt in the first place.”
Papenhuyzen retweeted the post on Monday, which has gained a lot of traction with fans and athletes from major football codes.
Papenhuyzen said no athlete would be surprised to receive death threats and abuse after losses and bad performances.
“I think the majority would have,” Papenhuyzen said.
“It is (a worry) but probably gets swept under the carpet because we don’t really have a place to comment on it.
“It makes you a bit of a target if you do go at it (respond to the gamblers)... I think it’s for the people higher up to figure out and crack down on it harder because as players, if we say something it usually comes back to bite us on the bum.”
Papenhuyen conceded the threats “100 per cent” rattled players on the receiving end.
“We don’t go out there to lose people’s bets,” he said.
“We don’t go out there to make people’s SuperCoach points the lowest possible.
“We go out there to get the win, if that’s different tactics one week well that’s different
tactics.
“I thought what he (Robinson) tweeted was true, we usually get a lot of death threats if we have a bad game.
“I 100 per cent agree with what he said and hopefully there is a bit more stuff done around that because the toll it has on players is pretty massive.”