Decades ago, Rugby League was the main men's contact sport in NSW and Queensland and the southern states played Australian Rules. Now both are national competitions and star players earn really big money.
Playing sport has progressed from something players did in their spare time to professional status and star players are feted like kings. They get plenty of " air time " on television shows and every comment is slavishly reported in newspapers. They have progressed from sporting heroes - to national celebrities !
Unfortunately, in recent times a " win at all costs " ethic seems to have invaded Rugby League. The NRL's " Competition Committee " , comprised of leading coaches and the games all-time greats has been called to consider banning the " Scorpion tackle " in which an opposing players leg is bent backwards.
In an unsavoury incident, match television clearly showed the leg of an opposition player returning from a knee injury subjected to such a play and many people complained of the " unsporting " aspect of such a gambit.
Rugby League has long banned the " Spear tackle " because of the danger of paraplegia. Surely we are not starting to condone play designed to injure the opposition as a playing tactic. Many people were shocked at what has been called the " Squirrel hold " , in which pressure is deliberately applied to squeeze a rivals testicles.
It seems that wrestling techniques are invading the game and this seems to be related to the pressure from fans to move up the competition table and thus secure valuable sponsor support. It is not helped by commentators who praise an earlier era and urge the sport to " bring back the biff " !
Unfortunately, there are some fans who follow the game with an attitude more akin to the days of the Coliseum in Rome, when gladiators fought and the victor looked to the emperor for a " thumbs up or thumbs down " signal - to execute the vanquished or set him free.
Rugby League is now engaged in a three way contest for viewer support - and vast inroads have been made by Aussie Rules and Soccer. The vast majority of fans want to see a fair game played with skill and not marred by thuggish behaviour.
The League needs to clean up it's game - or it will pay a declining price !
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