Damn it - how the frig to I explain to my 9 yo old boy, who adores the Sharks with the same passion and admiration as I did at the same age, what is going on. On TV, on radio, you hear Sharks and group sex. He's not deaf, someone got a tip on how I answer what is happening with the Sharks and Matty Johns?
As a parent, you can only hope that you have instilled the values & lived them that would prevent this type of thing from happening, or at least have your son be the one who discourages or stops the nonsense. And this is the part that pi$$es me off the most. What young guy has no understanding of "no" or of what is inappropriate sexually. Why is this Rugby Leagues "problem" What about parenting, what about schooling, what about someone or something else being responsible for screwed up kids who in turn as young men make stupid decisions or do things normal blokes wouldn't.
I just watched the show online - This show, how it aired, the language and phrases used by the presenter was absolutely designed to create a sense of shock, horror, disgust. That type of thing doesn't happen by accident, this show was designed to slam Rugby League and present the sport, it's culture and those that participate in it at any level, in every negative connotation they could muster. That style comes from skilled EPs who want the best ratings/ highest impact for their show.
It was a chance to bring someone down, a personality from a commercial network, and crucify a sport that is an easy target and look at the astronomical impact it's had across the media - all with the Four Corners team running around laying high fives on each other for such a successful program. Lets hope they didn't celebrate with a few drinks too many hey and do something stupid?
I've got an idea - let's have a look into the deep and dark world of broadcasting. An industry where allegedly drugs are freely available and consumed, excess alcohol consumption is common place and tails of sexual conquests and participation, male and female alike, are legendary. Sexual favours frequently exchanged for drugs for those not affluent enough to purchase their own are routinely swapped, and not just for drugs. Sounds like it would whip up a media storm right....oh wait, their own industry.