I've not read all the posts in here, but I do have this to say to Mr Pottinger if he has the intellect to read it after he googles himself yet again.
Mr Pottinger has displayed in one short article why he should not be hired as a journalist.
His key facts which he relies upon to justify his hypocritical nonsensical drivel are in fact, lies that he made up.
Three times he tells us he doesn't hate Rugby League and that he prefers to ignore it - yet he writes this piece in possibly the highest circulating newspaper in Australia. That's not ignorance Paul, thats very clear hypocrisy you idiot. I'd have thought someone who is a journalist and deputy editor no less would see this very clearly.
You've fooled some important people to not only get your job, but also to keep it.
But I digress. You go on to say:
"Beyond our eastern cities and one in New Zealand, some grimy towns in England's north and a few rustic French villages, rugby league does not exist."
Except for those tiny little places called Papua New Guinea, Lebanon, Italy, Wales, Scotland, Ireland, America, Canada, Russia..... It has existed since 1895, and in Australia the game became more popular than Union prior to the outbreak of WWI. The game was introduced to France in 1933-34 and it became more popular in the entire country than Union prior to the outbreak of WWII. Who's the short man?
"Please - I implore you - don't use rugby league in the same sentence as "World Cup" unless you wish to be battered by force 10 gales of laughter."
There are just as many teams competing in the Union and League world cups as there is in the Cricket world cup, why not raise that as well?
"Then there is the spectacle itself - 26 post-adolescents with hideously engorged musculature dressed each week in different livery, yet each of which somehow resembles a beverage can. These run in strict linear patterns until a mistake is made and one lot falls over the other's line. For this points are awarded."
Just like Rugby Union and AFL. Bundaberg Rum anyone? even soccer teams are sponsored by Alcohol companies. Carlsberg? Your single-mindedness has prevented your ability to be objective and factual. Lying is bad.
"When Balmain played Glebe in the 1915 grand final"
There was no Grand Final or even any finals at all in 1915. The season was first past the post, Balmain won 12 games and drew 2 (undefeated) and were declared premiers at the end of Round 14.
"young men were being sacrificed at Gallipoli"
Many Rugby League players from Australia, England and New Zealand (including test players) fought and died at Gallipoli, throughout WWI and WWII. The great Duncan Thompson served in both wars.
"The Queensland Rugby Union was unable to reform until 1929."
That says more about the strength and popularity of Rugby Union than anything negative about Rugby League.
"But it does strike me as a slightly anomalous note when the code wraps itself in the flag and has the Last Post played at its Anzac Day Test"
Because its a nationwide tribute, of which even Rugby League players sacrificed their lives. You don't earn a right to commemorate, are you really this stupid? Seriously?
"I don't begrudge its right to exist, which is more than can be said of its attitude toward everyone else."
So you don't like its 'attitude toward everyone else' as you perceive it, in what has been clearly perceived as a small, uneducated, simple mind that relies on lies and moronic opinion than actual facts. yet you sprout this dimwitted vitriol. More hypocrisy.
You are a disgrace to journalism. You are a blatant liar. You are an idiot, I sincerely mean that, you are an hypocritical idiot.
When I studied journalism, we were taught to research your facts.
You must have been on the toilet at the time, your published work resembles what you would have produced that fateful day you were on the toilet instead of actually learning something.
Just a final tip - steer clear of opinion pieces on topics you clearly have absolutely no idea about, because someone above you will find out just how stupid you are and you will lose your job.
