JT's FU wasn't that bad

Johnathan Thurston last night fronted the judiciary to appeal a one match suspension – for f*cking swearing. Yep, swearing. The fact he was even charged was a joke – he was charged for dropping F-bombs left right and centre: but who hasn’t?

For those who missed it last weekend, JT went on an expletive rant at referee Jason Robinson after a delayed call on a forward pass late in the match cost the Cowboys a try and probable victory. First of all, the call was correct. But the lateness and because it came from a man 60 metres away – plus the fact Robinson couldn’t explain it – had Thurston blow up and swear I think eight times. He also sarcastically added, “You (Referee Robinson) should be man of the match”.

He was then charged for detrimental conduct, whatever that is, and the NRL Match Review committee wanted him punted for a week – for swearing. He didn’t call the referee a cheat, he didn’t accuse the ref of costing the game or anything like that. Thurston was guilty of swearing and that is all.

Let me ask you this ... when something in your life goes wrong, what is your first reaction? I bet at least 75 per cent of the time it is to swear either out loud or under your breath. If you jam a finger in the door, you swear. If you drop something on your foot, you swear. If you bump your head, you swear.

So now think about this ... you are the captain of a struggling NRL team. You play your guts out for them, you play injured for them. You play two full, intense matches within four days for them. You are carrying this team on your back, in front of your fans, and get so damn close to the victory you so desperately need only for a tight call to go against you. You’re in a highly intense, emotional situation under extreme pressure. Eventually something is going to give and in JT’s case he exploded with a bit of swearing.

The argument, mainly from Sydney, about why he should have been suspended AGAIN goes back to this Little Johnny character. You know the one – Little Johnny and his mum watching the game and impressionable Little Johnny is straight away mimicking everything his hero does.

Well, that’s what parents and junior coaches are for. They bridge the gap between Little Johnny and Little Johnny’s hero. For the record, our game panders to Little Johnny way too much. Little Johnny needs to man up or go away (and play AFL – couldn’t resist!).

Swearing is absolutely everywhere around us – television, radio and conversation. People swear, so what? As Thurston’s defence team said, “there’s more swearing on an episode of Underbelly".

I don’t want to see these Refs getting verbal barrages on a weekly basis but surely people can see how this one happened.

A fine and apology from JT would have been sufficient punishment. Keep in mind Thurston is a respected player and generally has a decent rapport with officials. Suspensions are for repeat offenders and thankfully the right decision has now been made. JT won his appeal and will play on Monday night against Souths.

Folau’s FU acceptable

As we all know Israel Folau is leaving the code at the end of the season to go play AFL in Sydney. Less than a day after his announcement the QRL came out and effectively put the black line through his name for the remainder of the Origin series.

I have no problem with this.

I like Folau and would love him in my team, but as Darren Lockyer said “the jersey is bigger than the player”. We can’t have guys walk away from rugby league and play at the highest level.

On the other hand I’m really looking forward to watching Izzy play out the year with my club and know he will continue scoring tries and winning games as we plough on towards September.

TIPPING
Tips – Bulldogs, Storm, Penrith, Roosters, Dragons, Titans, Broncos, Souths
Last Week – 4/7
Total – 47/88 (53%)

As always you can reach me on email (andrew.keyte@gmail.com), Twitter (@keyto316) and through the comment section below.

See you next week,
Keyto