Christmas Ape said:
I've never met him, but Tony Martin seems like a friendly sort of bloke. Can anybody confirm or deny?
Everyone who mentioned Tonguey is spot on. A real nice, smiley, good bloke. Can play too.
Only got to "groupie" Marto once... unfortunately the poor bugger was in a neck brace at the time, but was still there at the after match function for the fans and the other players.
At the Warriors, the bloke who I found to be incredible is Ruben Wiki. At the aftermatch function we went to last year, most of the players were gone by 5PM, he was still there chatting and having photos taken, signing autographs... and chatting some more to anyone who wanted to have a chat till like 7PM. We learnt later on the players actually left for a formal dinner around 5:30ish, so he'd stuck around to be with the fans. We all appreciate things like that.
The likes of Mark Tookey, Stacey Jones, Wairangi Koopu, Henry Fa'afili, Ali Lauitiiti and believe it or not - Clinton Toopi, Richard Villasanti and Monty Betham were always very willing to have a good yarn to us. Obviously Stace is usually mobbed, but I was fortunate to catch him without a mobbing going on, the day after the grand final, and it was just a very humbling experience he talked to you like you were a friend, even only through association of being a supporter of his team.
I think a lot of bad things sad about rugby league players is often a bit of a media beat up, and there a fair few with their hearts in the right place who realise the importance of their fans as long as their individual rights are respected.
