The main difference that might make a difference?

I really shouldn’t write comments on my phone.

Apart form media issues about what is or isnt reported possibly it appears more common in the football codes because there seems to be more of a team mentality and peer pressure (both good and bad) than you find in other sports.

Not this case specifically but more generally I think its a little hypocritical to make squillions because you are “famous” for whatever reason but then complain about media coverage when you go wrong. Live by the sword etc.

chewy14 said :

dph said :

chewy14 said :

Got any evidence that the level of crime or bad behaviour by RL players is higher than other sports mentioned or the general population of young males?

Or do you base your opinions on who gets the most coverage on the back page of the Terrorgraph?

I think you’ll find that a lot of the off field behaviour isn’t disclosed by the media. Fairfax & News.ltd, do as good a job protecting players, as they do covering the gutter stories.

Whether you love the game or you hate it, I think you have to be a bit naive to believe that Rugby League doesn’t have some significant cultural issues & a poor reputation with off field behaviour.

I asked for evidence and that’s the best you can come up with? A media conspiracy?

I’m not saying that there aren’t complete Fwits playing professional football (all codes) but I’d actually be surprised if the level was much higher than in the young male population as a whole. For every Josh Dugan, there’s a Charnwood bogan hooning in a white Commodore.

The main difference that might make a difference is the time and money the footy players have but I think you’d be quite silly to base your overall opinion of footy players on media coverage.

I never said anything about Rugby League players being worse than the dregs of society? All I’ve said is that RL has some cultral issues & a poor off field reputation.

I base my opinion on factual stories, as well as personal experiance.

dph said :

I never said anything about Rugby League players being worse than the dregs of society? All I’ve said is that RL has some cultral issues & a poor off field reputation.

I base my opinion on factual stories, as well as personal experiance.

You still don’t get it.
I didn’t say “dregs of society”, I said the general population of young males.

If Rugby League players (or any other footballers) aren’t worse than their peers, it’s not Rugby League that has the problem, it’s society.

I think the word you are looking for with regards evidence dph is empirical.

Not to say chewy14 doesn’t have a point though.

I think that what these guys (all codes, not singling anyone out here) got to get through their thick skulls is that any misbehaviour is going to be jumped on and used to criticise the code as a whole. That goes for the rest of the players, the clubs, the sponsers and the fans. We are all tarred with the same brush.

I too would be surprised if the level of indiscretion shown by some sports people is not on par with their age group peers.

Just remember that for every oaf sportperson out there, there are half a dozen more giving to sick children and the like, and that’s where your emprirical evidence, dph, shows its flaws. Because that stuff just doesn’t hit the papers with any regularity.

(I’d like to declare my bias as I played A-Grade Rugby League from 1986 – 2003)

chewy14 said :

You still don’t get it.
I didn’t say “dregs of society”, I said the general population of young males.

If Rugby League players (or any other footballers) aren’t worse than their peers, it’s not Rugby League that has the problem, it’s society.

Whether you believe your average 18-35 male thinks this type of behaviour is ok, is irrelevant.
When Rugby League is trying to attract sponsors, as well as promote a healthy, family friendly image, than it becomes a Rugby League problem.