Get real Freddy
By Mike Gibson
September 8, 2004
LAST Sunday I went to a family christening. It was a very pleasant affair. One bloke I met over a sausage sandwich was a truckdriver called Gary.
Fittler ... What piffle.
We got to talking and Gary, who lives in the western suburbs of Sydney, told me how lucky he was.
"I'm only driving 12 hours a day," he said. "Most of the truckies I know work a lot harder than that."
On Monday at Aussie Stadium, Roosters captain Brad Fittler failed to turn up for the Captains Call to promote the NRL finals series.
"He was mentally tired," explained Roosters' coach Ricky Stuart.
I wonder how Gary and his trucking colleagues must have felt, when they heard about Freddy's "mental fatigue".
While the other seven captains fulfilled their obligations, Freddy was unwinding in the Aussie Stadium pool only 100m from where the media conference was held.
Cowboys captain Travis Norton managed to get there. Despite a crook knee and a dose of the flu, he made the five-hour return flight from Townsville.
Gorden Tallis missed a training session with the Broncos to fly down from Brisbane.
Stephen Kearney flew up from Melbourne, Simon Woolford ditto from Canberra, while Steve Price was up at 1.45am [Sydney time] in Auckland to catch the plane.
Yet, when informed that the NRL felt that Freddy owed them some sort of explanation for his no-show, Roosters' CEO Brian Canavan pompously declared: "It's disappointing that an icon of our game can be challenged."
What piffle.
What was disappointing, Mr Canavan, was that Freddy failed to front for the NRL's biggest promotion of finals week.
What was disappointing was that the captain of the minor premiers couldn't even drag himself 100m from the swimming pool to appear at a 40-minute function held at his club's home ground.
So Freddy has been a little stretched in recent weeks? So he attended his testimonial last week and has freely spoken to the media?
Hey, doesn't that come with the territory?
When you're one of the highest profile and highest paid players in rugby league, isn't it part of your obligation to promote the game as best as you can?
So Freddy has been busier than usual since he announced his retirement?
How about big Gordy? He announced his retirement too. You reckon he wouldn't be extra busy up there in Brisbane?
And Steve Price? Fronting up to the media all year defending the Bulldogs - then announcing he's joining the Warriors next season.
Now there's a guy who has what you might describe as a full book.
No one wants to rain on Freddy's parade. Magnificent player. Marvellous career. All of that.
Sure, he has promoted the game. And sure, he does his share of charity work, which is commendable.
But there are many fans who believe that rugby league players are grossly overpaid for the actual amount of work that they do each week, and if it gets a little busy sometimes, jeez Freddy, join the club.
it wasn't aimed at just the Roosters and the injured player refered to in my post wasn't Norton. hint: read it again for his name 
.
