Brohman settles score with Boyd
AS you know, I'm normally the big, fat jolly fellow who writes entertaining and humorous stuff.
But today the gloves are off and it's time to stand up for myself.
Last week, Les Boyd claimed that before State of Origin I in 1983, Australian selectors Ernie Hammerton, Les "Chicka'' Cowie and Peter McLean told Les he could do whatever was required to make sure no Queenslanders were in the Australian side.
With this in mind, Les unleashed hell on Queensland.
Unfortunately for me, I was on the end of an elbow to the head that broke my jaw.
Les, the lovable larrikin with a killer sense of humour, said: "I still maintain my elbow on Brohman was not deliberate. If I wanted to do it on purpose, I would have gone for Gene Miles or Wally Lewis. Brohman was a better asset for us on the field than off it.''
Of course it wasn't deliberate, Les. That is the way we were taught to tackle: you must run in with your elbow cocked at the head of an opponent. That should stop 'em, shouldn't it, Les?
I will concede that Gene and Wally were infinitely better players than me and if I was to accidentally take someone out with foul tactics (something 99 per cent of footballers would never consider), it would have been Geno or Wally on the end of my elbow.
Another really good point, Les.
When Les was asked last week to describe a meeting between the two of us before Origin III this year, he said: "I think he was s----ing himself. No doubt he's embarrassed by what happened. I admit what I did was not right but I apologised to the bloke during the game and again after the game. But he took it to the courts and sued me. That's life.''
I appreciate that you apologised, Les, that was big of you.
Now, let's start with the truth.
Firstly, I was not s----ing myself when I met Les and Johnny Peard at the airport before Origin III. I walked up to both and shook their hands.
Peardy and I are old mates. He was my coach at Penrith in 1983 when the elbow incident occurred and he encouraged me to take legal action (something I'm sure Les isn't aware of).
Les shook my hand but refused to look me in the eye. I have seen Les about half a dozen times since the incident and he has refused to look at me or have a conversation with me.
I have been quite willing to have a chat but he is not interested, so I have decided not to waste my time any more.
Secondly, he apologised to me once, late in the first half when I was in the Queensland dressing room having a shower. My father was checking on my condition when Les walked into the room.
He had been sin-binned for yet another indiscretion and decided to venture into what he thought was a vacant Queensland room.
Les said something along the lines of, "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to do that to you''. My father told him to piss off, and he left.
The thing that really annoys me about all this rubbish is that he thinks I am embarrassed by what happened. What planet are you living on, Les?
Not only did you break my jaw with an elbow to the head, in your second game back from a 12-month suspension you eye-gouged Billy Johnstone at Brookvale Oval and were suspended for a further 15 months.
Add to that a myriad of other suspensions and it is painfully clear that the person who should be embarrassed is you.
Not only have you embarrassed yourself and your family, Les,you are an embarrassment to rugby league. You changed the game forever with your despicable on-field behaviour.
I just hope that as you grow older you might have some regrets and admit that what you did on the field is not the way football is supposed to be played.
It's a tough game for tough men, but fortunately the thugs have been weeded out. And guess what, Les - the game is better for it.
