Semi Radradra

[Eelementary]

According to you.

Of course - though I'm hardly on my Pat Malone in thinking that they're dicks.

Point is, they may be dicks, but they're accomplished players.

It doesn't follow that one needs to be a good person to be a good footballer; plenty of footballers are below average people.

 

[yy_cheng]

I reckon he'll just goto whoever offers the most.

Can't we send his dad here and get the club doctor or hire his fijian doctor over here to look after him

 

[Gary Gutful]

Of course - though I'm hardly on my Pat Malone in thinking that they're dicks.

Point is, they may be dicks, but they're accomplished players.

It doesn't follow that one needs to be a good person to be a good footballer; plenty of footballers are below average people.

Fair call.

For me the 'dick' label depends. People like Bird, who have had a history of dodgy off field behaviour are obvious dicks.

However, there are also some players who can be competitive merkins on the field but by all reports, fantastic blokes off it. In a lot of cases, the average punter probably doesn't really know what the person behind the footballer is really like.

 

[Bandwagon]

And sounds like he or his manager have hired an "image consultant"/spin doctor, to get Semi through the three months up to his no delayed court case...?

Or it could be that what he says there is what he feels and thinks about the whole situation. Perhaps he simply values his family over and above all else, and the way in which he acts because of that just doesn't fit as well into Australian expectations as we might like.

 

[Eelementary]

Fair call.

For me the 'dick' label depends. People like Bird, who have had a history of dodgy off field behaviour are obvious dicks.

However, there are also some players who can be competitive merkins on the field but by all reports, fantastic blokes off it. In a lot of cases, the average punter probably doesn't really know what the person behind the footballer is really like.

Fair call.

I guess what I was trying to get at us that it is nice to have players who are good people on your team, but sometimes you get quality players that are not always the best people (or at least, appear not to be).

 

[El Diablo]

I reckon he'll just goto whoever offers the most.

Can't we send his dad here and get the club doctor or hire his fijian doctor over here to look after him

Turdles would probably include it in our cap

 

[Happy MEel]

Fair call.

I guess what I was trying to get at us that it is nice to have players who are good people on your team, but sometimes you get quality players that are not always the best people (or at least, appear not to be).

I hear what you're saying but I'm guessing he uses that philosophy as a general rule. Of course there are going to be exceptions.

However, there's also the possibility that the players you mentioned would be even better players if they were better men, which would qualify his philosophy. Who's to know, but Im confident he knows more about managing a football team than both you and I, and this is the mantra he follows.

 

[Eelementary]

I hear what you're saying but I'm guessing he uses that philosophy as an general rule. Of course there are going to be exceptions.

However, there's also the possibility that the players you mentioned would be even better players if they were better men, which would qualify his philosophy. Who's to know, but Im confident he knows more about managing a football team than both you and I, and this is the mantra he follows.

That's true.

And I do agree with the idea - using the NBL as a analogy for a moment, Kevin Lisch is a great player, and an even better bloke; he's a great sport, a really nice guy, and a terrific player, and he probably wouldn't be as good as he is if he didn't possess those desirable traits.

But I believe that sportsmen, by their nature, can sometimes let their egos drive them to be less than perfect, but their athletic abilities still shine through.

I'd rather support a team of good people, though - blokes like Tim Mannah, ahead of guys like Greg Bird.

 

[Chipmunk]

http://www.ntnews.com.au/sport/nrl/...k=03d5f83eeb85e861f7e2c762291caaa7-1480761456

Eels flyer Semi Radradra has opened up about his future in the NRL

DAVID RICCIO, The Sunday Telegraph
December 3, 2016 10:00pm

SEMI Radradra has pledged his allegiance to the Parramatta Eels next season and stated his disappointment in French rugby union club Toulon for announcing his signing when he never received a contract.

In his only interview following a tumultuous week of headlines, Radradra provided the most telling insight of his career, discussing:

■ Why he wants to be part of the Eels’ 2017 premiership-winning team but returning to rugby union is a possibility;

■ The plan to determine his next move in the “near future” and why his contract pays for his ill-father’s medical bills;

■ His daily battle with homesickness and the toll of providing for his family and friends in Fiji;

■ How shattered he was to be overlooked by Mal Meninga for Australia’s recent Four Nations squad;

■ Why he owes everything to Parramatta and why the club will survive with, or without him.

Due to legal provisions, the explosive Parramatta winger was unable to discuss his February 13 court case when he is due to face domestic violence charges.

However, the 24-year-old said he felt like a weight had lifted from his shoulders by breaking his silence on everything except the legal concerns, with The Sunday Telegraph.

“I’m committed to playing the 2017 season with the Eels, my contract is for the 2017 season and I intend on honouring this contract,’’ Radradra said. “All things being equal I would love to remain an Eel beyond 2017, I love the fans, I love my teammates and coach.

“The reality of being a professional athlete in the modern era is that we are faced with difficult decisions, we have a short window to make a career for ourselves and families.

“For me the added responsibilities is that so many people and households in Fiji rely on me to support them. We will weigh everything up with my manager and make a decision in the near future.’’

Toulon’s flamboyant owner Mourad Boudjellal left Radradra and his management fuming when declared the winger would be joining the French rugby union club in 2018-19.

“There is an offer from Toulon for the 2018 season but I am disappointed they announced I had signed before they had even issued me the contract,’’ Radradra said. “I love playing rugby league and in the NRL and I owe so much to the sport.

“The thing people forget is that Semi Radradra played rugby union for the first 19 years of my life, I had never watched a game of rugby league until I arrived at Parramatta. I was recruited from the Fijian national rugby union team to join the NRL.

“Rugby union was every kid in Fiji’s first love and we all dreamt of wearing the white jersey.

“Somewhere deep inside me there is an itch to play rugby union again and see how I can compete against the best in the world, if or when I scratch that itch I still haven’t decided.

“One thing that is certain is that the Eels and rugby league are much bigger than me and the game will go on without me.’’

Pilloried for returning to Fiji to visit his ill father, Radradra had his passport suspended after failing to attend Parramatta court last week.

“He (father) has been very ill for a long time now,’’ Radradra said.

“He has his good days and his bad days.

“This illness will be with him until the day he dies so its just about helping him manage it and be more comfortable day to day.

“It’s very hard for me being away from my dad and my family whilst he is struggling with this illness.

“I worry every day about his health and I nervously wait a call each day from my mother for news on him.

“I just keep telling myself that me being here enables my dad to pay for his doctors bills and buy his medicine.’’

Radradra, who made his debut with the Kangaroos in May, said his omission due to the current court case from the Four Nations left him shell-shocked.

“The Australian jersey is the greatest personal achievement in my entire career, wearing that jersey was one of the happiest days of my life,’’ Radradra said.

“Being ruled unavailable by the NRL for the Four Nations was the hardest thing I have had to deal with in my career.’’

For this article, there is no way David Riccio interviewed Semi in person, asked him questions and those were the responses that came out of Semi's mouth. Riccio must have emailed some questions and Semi, his Manager and possibly others have replied to the questions.

 

[El Diablo]

For this article, there is no way David Riccio interviewed Semi in person, asked him questions and those were the responses that came out of Semi's mouth. Riccio must have emailed some questions and Semi, his Manager and possibly others have replied to the questions.

and how would you know this?

and he could easily use this new thing called a phone

 

[Chipmunk]

and how would you know this?

and he could easily use this new thing called a phone

Because they're not words and expressions that Semi would ordinarily use in conversation.

 

[El Diablo]

Because they're not words and expressions that Semi would ordinarily use in conversation.

so you've had a discussion with him recently and what did he say?

 

[El Diablo]

---

 

[Barry O'Speedwagon]

Journo: So, you had a great game today?

Star Winger: Yes, mate. In previous weeks I thought that the team were really lacking the synergistic benefits that arise from a well executed training regime. When we get it right, I feel exceptionally empowered, and that feeling of being disconnected from modern society, yet somehow still present is palpably absent. We're in the middle of a real paradigm shift at the moment, and it certainly augurs well for the future.

 

[hindy111]

Hindy111 = Semi will play 2017. Odds he is right are shortening fellas. Sorry Ron but it looks like you may be wrong

 

[Gary Gutful]

For this article, there is no way David Riccio interviewed Semi in person, asked him questions and those were the responses that came out of Semi's mouth. Riccio must have emailed some questions and Semi, his Manager and possibly others have replied to the questions.

Of course. Isn't that what usually happens?

 

[Chipmunk]

Of course. Isn't that what usually happens?

I'd say in the most the majority of the quotes you would read in the paper would be from the media interview that the player generally have to attend.

This "interview" was clearly conducted under different circumstances.

 

[Chipmunk]

so you've had a discussion with him recently and what did he say?

They're actually not words and expressions that any NRL player would ordinarily use in general response to a question in a media interview.

Some of the wording and expressions used in those quotes in tha article are just ridiculous.

 

[phantom eel]

Or it could be that what he says there is what he feels and thinks about the whole situation. Perhaps he simply values his family over and above all else, and the way in which he acts because of that just doesn't fit as well into Australian expectations as we might like.

Which family-first Australian expectations isn't he fitting? The one that you um (allegedly) beat up your Missus? Or the one that you don't front up to court and try and prove your innocence?

 

[El Diablo]

They're actually not words and expressions that any NRL player would ordinarily use in general response to a question in a media interview.

Some of the wording and expressions used in those quotes in tha article are just ridiculous.

so you've never spoken to Semi but you're an expert on what words he uses in a conversation

in fact, you're a self proclaimed conversational expert on all Rugby League players

is there a University course you did for this?

maybe you should write a book about it