NRL player sets fire to family in Brisbane

[DIOGENES]

Yesterday numerous sources including the ABC and Murdoch press reported that the man who died in Brisbane with his family (this has not been confirmed as murder yet) was an ex-NRL player.
In fact (from the SMH)
Rowan Baxter once played for the New Zealand Warriors rugby league club in a pre-season match against NRL club the Parramatta Eels. He had previously played as a winger for Bay of Plenty in the New Zealand rugby competition.

I guess implicating the NRL sells papers and confirms the stereotyping that Southerners have for NRL players

 

[Brutus]

Saw several headlines with the tag 'NRL Star' yesterday.

What a disgrace the media is.

The guy never actually played an official NRL game.

 

[Perth Tiger]

absolute disgrace. The NRL really needs to target one of these headlines (probably not this one given the subject matter) and sue the media companies for damages to their brand

 

[blue bags]

reports are, he poured petrol over his wife,the 3 kids, in the car , lite it up on fire, then stabbed himself to death on the street all 5 are dead now, very sad , anyone who feels like doing stuff like this, DONT DO IT, seek help

 

[DIOGENES]

The NRL MUST act NOW
Tonight’s ABC News is still calling the £€¥& an NRL player

 

[AJB1102]

Suggesting this scummy coward f**k was ever anything more than a failed wannabe NRL player and a failed wannabe man/husband/father is a gross misrepresentation.

His corpse should be incinerated and the resulting waste tipped into the skip with all the other rubbish.

Keep the oven on for the journos and editors who use "NRL star" to drive clicks and profit from this.

 

[juro]

What happened there had absolutely zero to do with sport. Why the hell is it even worth mentioning?

Yes, I know why...

 

[SpaceMonkey]

Cynical click baiting at its worst.

 

[Gardenia]

What happened there had absolutely zero to do with sport. Why the hell is it even worth mentioning?

Yes, I know why...

Agreed. Its dangerously close to stereotyping perpetrators of DV which can come from any class of society . Close to trivialising a serious matter . Its ignorant and the NRL should take action

 

[DIOGENES]

The victims’ family has spoken out about the media use of “NRL Star”:
From today’s SMH
They also slammed the way the family's relationship was reported by some media outlets, and took particular issue with some describing Mr Baxter as an "NRL star". He played one trial game for the New Zealand Warriors in 2005.

"This isn't a fall from grace, or a loving father," Nat said.

"A loving father doesn't do that," Suzanne added.

 

[DIOGENES]

ABC on Q&A again tonight repeats that the murderer was an NRL player

 

[mozza91]

ABC on Q&A again tonight repeats that the murderer was an NRL player

*NRL legend