I don’t necessarily trust Ray Hadley. But I don’t trust a word that comes from the clubs PR machine, and that includes McInnes, Graham, Gordon, Webb or McGregor.
Are you saying you trust the words of those within the club?
That Paul McGregor is a career coach who’s just down on troops, and he was selected from a list of 10+ candidates (Including Hasler and McGuire) and shown to the best of the bunch?
That the team who hasn’t scored a try in 2 games will improve out of sight if they get their completion rate up?
That the players are all getting along swimmingly despite playing like they just met on the bus en route to the game?
That the playing group are overjoyed having JDB amongst their ranks every day?
That WIN Corp taking 50% control, including power vote on the BoD was essential for maintaining the identity of the club and leading us into the future?
That Brian Johnston was the prime CEO candidate after a worldwide search?
That McGregor was truly devestated for his mate Pricey when he was removed?
Puh-lease. If you believe a word that comes from the club about the happenings behind the scenes then I’ve got a bridge in NYC you might be interested in. The club has fed us as much (if not more) lies and bullshit than any one media outlet.
I’ve been assuming that you have a few years on me JF, so surely you recognise that you need to filter through crap in the media and crap from the club to find something that remotely resembles the truth. And unless you blindly believe every word that our club feeds you, then one must conclude that, at a minimum, that we have major issues within our team and club in general.
I asked a genuine question of who you trust, not what you don’t. So you don’t trust the club - a PR machine. Ok I get that view.
In what I’ve heard from these guys lately I believe and trust they are on the level, they come across to me as completely genuine. You don’t, and that’s your view. Keep it, no problem.
But unlike you, I don’t follow you around the forums and think my opinion or theories are fact, and above your own. And I don’t reply with sarcastic stuff or tell you about a bridge just because we disagree. That’s your style here not mine. That’s a style Ray Hadley and Alan Jones have been using for decades. I’ll trust the integrity of a bloke who plays his absolute guts out for our club each week like Cameron McInnes over a bloke behind a microphone like Ray Hadley 365 days of the year.
The club performance right now is diabolical but that doesn’t lend itself to me questioning the integrity of the people there. We’ll never know all the inner sanctum issues that may/may not be happening. And I personally don’t give a flying fiddlers f—k if there are any internal issues at our club, or others. With any sports club with that many competitive blokes in a close environment it’s bound to happen at times. And no club would talk openly about it if there was, stupidity if they did.
But what I do know is people like Ray Hadley, Chammas, Prozensko, Rothfield and other journos only keep their jobs if people listen to them and read their stories, click on links... that’s how their industry works. And bad news stories will trump good news stories for this 100% of the time without question. So when there’s a sniff of a club in trouble, they are onto it... with their versions on stories, some claiming information from “reliable sources....club insiders....” ... basically a get out clause for them to say whatever they please. And they are never accountable for the accuracy of a story - as long as it gets clicks and ratings. They’ll tell the parts of the story they choose, accurate or otherwise, to keep themselves relevant and in a job. Because often - the full story means the story loses its sensationalism.
The Luke one is absolutely typical of this formula.. thus..
Club is underperforming
Player released to another club (Luke)
Use innuendo headline with crisis buzzword (here - disgruntled)
Use file photo where the player looks disappointed, upset, angry, etc.
Claim internal issues, possibly reference “reliable sources”..
Don’t ask player for comment.
And keep milking the bad news juice out of a story to keep the masses watching and listening. Welcome to Journalism 101, 2020 style - make yourself relevant.
Believe what you want to believe.
