Al-anwar Newspaper English news in Australia
The paradox of the self-absorbed Panthers is breathtaking.
As tough and intelligent as they are on the field they moan like little children off it.
They continue to ruin their own parade with boorish (adjective: rough and bad mannered; coarse) behaviour that devalues (verb: reduce or underestimate the worth of importance of) their own performance.
It was just a week ago the Panthers were all bravado (noun: a bold manner or a show of boldness intended to impress or intimidate).
Physio Peter Green stepped out of line and verballed a rival Souths player, although the tip is when the Panthers checked the audio it was another on-field trainer, and the Panthers suddenly revealed themselves as thin-skinned.
Coach Ivan Cleary called it defamatory. An anonymous official threatened to sue.
Even though nothing said was defamatory (adjective: damaging the good reputation of someone), the Panthers were bullying their way through.
Since winning the grand final the intention is the same, but done in victory.
Panthers officials have remained silent on their antics except for director Greg Alexander, who appeared to condone it. At least he put a comment to it.
The NRL has also remained silent, saying nothing more than a confirmation they are investigating Jarome Luai’s racial comment on his Instagram account.
The NRL’s lack of understanding for grand final protocol was telling.
The game ended at 9.30pm Sunday night and the players instantly celebrated, as they should.
They went into the grandstand and brought family onto the field to celebrate with them, which was terrific.
They lifted the trophy at 9.50pm when the NRL finally got its act together.
Many players then sat on the grass playing in the confetti with their kids or taking photos with them on field while fans in the grandstand waited for as long as they could suffer it.
Half an hour later, and nearly an hour after the game, and with three-quarters of the crowd gone, they finally got the lap of honour underway.
Not a full lap, but a walk inside the stadium
While it is the players’ moment first and foremost, it is also a moment for fans.
Where is the NRL in this?
The lap of honour was a tradition that goes back as far as anybody alive can remember.
It’s not the Panthers’ fault because the NRL has allowed it to slowly disappear.
Meanwhile, the rest of the Panthers’ antics go uncontested.
What the club sponsors such as OAK and Allam make of their thug-life posturing has not been confirmed. Anyone feel like a strawberry milk after watching that?
While the Panthers are headfirst into adopting elements of the hip-hop gangsta lifestyle the difference between them and the artists they copy is that they are part of something bigger.
