The Joey Race Debate

Apologies that this posting comes a few days late... by now this issue has been debated and dissected numerous times, unfortunately work and uni deadlines have meant I've only gotten around to writing about it now.

But here we go.

By now everyone knows that Andrew Johns referred to Greg Inglis as a "black c***", leading to NSW winger Timana Tahu walking out of the team in protest. A recent article has also stated that it was not just one comment that made Tahu walk.

This is what I think. The fact that Johns was arguably one of the best players to strap on a boot has allowed him too much leeway over the years. A few years ago when he was caught with drugs and managed to turn the whole thing around to get sympathy, I said then that he was no victim, that he knew what he was doing and he was only sorry for getting caught.

That is why his apology is meaningless again now. Clearly Andrew Johns would have carried on making unacceptable comments with zero remorse if no one had complained. It was only after Tahu took his commendable stand that (all of a sudden) apologies and regret gushed forth from Johns' mouth. An article I read today says he is emotionally distraught over the whole affair now too.

Sorry, Joey, there's no sympathy for you this time.

Andrew Johns has crossed the line again. NSW team management have rightly said he is not welcome back in the fold this year. But the time has come to stamp out racism in rugby league, and not for years will there be another opportunity this ideal.

What better way to send a message out to players, coaches, clubs and fans than by making an example of one of the game's most celebrated players? Ban him from coaching NSW for life. Ban him from any official NRL duty. And while we're at it, how about Channel 9, who so willingly disposed of his brother Matthew, show some balls and fire him too?

Then every player will know that racism will not be tolerated. If that's what they'll do to one of the game's best-known champions, then everyone will see that the league and its partners are serious.

As for Timana Tahu - its a shame that he had to leave the team to make his point. I am of the view that he could have - and should have stayed in the camp, while still blowing the whistle on Joey's myopic ways. Timana shouldn't have to miss playing for his state because of someone else's poor judgement. Here's hoping he rejoins the fold for Origin 3.

... which will be a dead rubber after Queensland make it five series wins from five on Wednesday night. NSW were outsiders even before this ugly Johns incident. The incredible disturbance the whole mess has caused to NSW's preparations is bad enough - and then factor in a Queensland side featuring several stars of indigenous lineage, who wouldn't have taken to kindly to the comment either, and will be looking forward to refuting it - with their football doing the talking.