Matt Burke's article in the SMH on the Waratahs

[The_Brown_Hornet]

It's probably got something to do with being the best resourced rugby state with on-paper a very good squad and spending the last 15 or years with little to show for it.

 

[Richard D. James]

The 'tahs are fun to hate, like a pantomime villain. Even for their own fans it seems.

 

[Blue]

Hey Fatprop,

Seriously mate, where do you get your Avatar's? That is another classic.

Self portrait that one I am sure.

 

[Blue]

The internet is full of fools who allow themselves to be photographed at the wrong time and their "mates" who choose to tell the world.

This one was from

http://www.evilmilk.com/

I am just glad that I grew up before the digital camera made documenting stupidity at parties so easy

Great site. What were you doing there in the first place if I may ask so boldly

 

[lincoln]

Going back some time it was the Sydney rep sides that played with passion ('78 v Wales) and the NSW sides that went through the motions. I only have 40 years of memories but am challenged to think of the Tahs consistently "turning up to play".

 

[wamberal]

Going back some time it was the Sydney rep sides that played with passion ('78 v Wales) and the NSW sides that went through the motions. I only have 40 years of memories but am challenged to think of the Tahs consistently "turning up to play".

19th May 1962 New South Wales 12 defeated All Blacks 11.


A pretty handy ABs side, too, with players like DB Clarke, Aussie Des Connor, Colin Meads, Kel Tremain, and Wilson Whineray. I was there, at the old Sydney Sports Ground. :-[


The ABs scored two tries, we scored none. I cannot remember the NSW scoring for sure, but I can remember Jim Lenehan kicking a couple of prodigious goals, one was a field goal, from memory the other was a penalty that he also kicked with a droppy.

 

[fatprop]

Great site. What were you doing there in the first place if I may ask so boldly

drinking coffee whilst putting off opening the next file usually

 

[Gnostic]

Mr Burke. I have been a Waratah supporter for 30+ years, to the point that when I am invited to attend a Reds home game, where the Tahs aren't even playing I wear a Tahs jersey (that and the fact I like to stir). I am not however a "blind" follower. If you want that type of supporter you should have switched codes, where FOLLOWERS will support their club regardless of performance, criminal activity or loutish behaviour.

You were one of the best ever Waratahs and IMO the best Wallaby 15. You lost a much respect with the bitter somewhat paranoid ramblings in your Biography and now this arrogant 'you cannot comment unless you've played at this level' comment has done it for me.

The Tahs deserved what they got last week and more and with the kicking performance of Hangers and Barnes falling away so badly perhaps you deserve a bit of it to.

So Boo to you, and if you don't like it, go and get a 9 to five or shift job and really do the grind that so many of those fans you have just spurned have to do to get the dollars they paid to watch such a lazy and uninterested performance.

 

[Bruce Ross]

Dispense with the niceties, Gnostic. Tell him what you really think.

 

[Gagger]

The line "you can comment when you have played at the level" is full of hubris. The paying fans and supporters are the heart of the game, not former stars like Burke. I know Burke loves the Tahs and would've been just as hurt by their woeful performance, but someone needs to tell him to pull his head out of his arse. If the Tahs played like absolute shit, and you paid to be there on a crap night to boot, why not show your displeasure to the team? I know I was suffering just watching the bloody thing on TV.

Bleh.

Agree

I also reckon the red rag he wrote was the "unless you've played top level you can't comment or understand" line

I've picked this attitude up before from some players and even those who've just hung around top teams in admin or media roles. Puts my hackles up and obviously plenty of others as well.

 

[Nusadan]

It's a shame that Burkey wrote in that fashion as I have (I haven't read his autobiography though) always admired him and enjoyed his articles, and he still showed his wares when he finished up at Newcastle in UK, the fans there called him "God"...

His motivation for the article is seriously misplaced, and I would put it down to his head being in a different place to where it usually is after the that shameful loss.

 

[Jnor]

It's a shame that Burkey wrote in that fashion as I have (I haven't read his autobiography though) always admired him and enjoyed his articles, and he still showed his wares when he finished up at Newcastle in UK, the fans there called him "God"...

His motivation for the article is seriously misplaced, and I would put it down to his head being in a different place to where it usually is after the that shameful loss.

I always liked him as well. As a player and I generally thought his columns were pretty good too. This seems really odd to me, like the kind of thing he wrote 10 minutes after the game ended last week and filed straight away. I can see he would be defensive about it but stepping back and actually thinking about what he's said might have been a good idea.

Although I guess it means rugbyheaven gets a few more hits...

 

[Ruggo]

Waratahs' fans are certainly a miserable bunch.

Well they aimed the blame at the right people unlike those Brumby fans who just blame the ref for their bad performances. Remember vs the Hurricanes last year.

If you are not miserable about the Brumbies you must be smoking Bob Marley's special blend or something.

 

[Ruggo]

Mr Burke. I have been a Waratah supporter for 30+ years, to the point that when I am invited to attend a Reds home game, where the Tahs aren't even playing I wear a Tahs jersey (that and the fact I like to stir). I am not however a "blind" follower. If you want that type of supporter you should have switched codes, where FOLLOWERS will support their club regardless of performance, criminal activity or loutish behaviour.

You were one of the best ever Waratahs and IMO the best Wallaby 15. You lost a much respect with the bitter somewhat paranoid ramblings in your Biography and now this arrogant 'you cannot comment unless you've played at this level' comment has done it for me.

The Tahs deserved what they got last week and more and with the kicking performance of Hangers and Barnes falling away so badly perhaps you deserve a bit of it to.

So Boo to you, and if you don't like it, go and get a 9 to five or shift job and really do the grind that so many of those fans you have just spurned have to do to get the dollars they paid to watch such a lazy and uninterested performance.

Well said Gnostic and good on you for saying it..

 

[Moses]

Hayze is exactly right: the fans have paid their money and it is their prerogative to cheer, boo or sit mute as they choose. This precious attitude of (ex-) players - that they are entitled to blind, unquestioning adoration and support - is extraordinary in the professional era.

Besides, this argument surely works both ways, Mr Burke. I'm guessing that it's been many, many years since you paid a small fortune for a ticket, drove through congested traffic, forked out more for parking, much more for a pie and a beer, sat on a cold, hard seat to watch a disappointing game and then had to slog your way back through the traffic home. By your reasoning you are not entitled to criticise the fans. (The reasoning is faulty, but my point is that you can't have it both ways: bagging the fans, as a non-fan, as not being entitled to pass judgement on the players, but maintaining that the players are beyond criticism from those fans unless the latter have played Super rugby. BTW, do you approve of fans who have not played Super rugby actually cheering? Surely they're unqualified to do that as well, by the same logic, since they "can't comprehend what happens out on the field". Boy, rugby games would be quiet affairs in your world.)

Bolded bit is pure gold

 

[Finsbury Girl]

Burke is a tool. Always has been, even his teammates didn't like him. Plus he was one of the biggest hogs of all time, certainly up there with Latho on non-passing ability. An individual not a team player, hence the arrogance.

 

[Groucho]

I wrote natty a personal letter back last night,

This morning he sent me an email asking if I had ever written an article for a newspaper, and explaining that even though I may pay for it, it doesn't give me the right to demand the content I want as I wasn't there for the struggles or planning that went into it.

Fair call

No it certainly isn't a fair call. Every reader of a newspaper has the right to complain if they think an article is wrong.

Burke is applying the same wrong logic to his article as he applied to the Tahs.

You don't need to be a super rugby player to criticise your team when they show no commitment. You don't need to be a journalist to criticise bad journalism. Just like you don't need to be a f*cking pie to criticise pies.

 

[Sully]

Love this bit.

True to form, the coach has responded to the Cheetahs defeat by taking stern action. He has dropped a winger, who has only played one game of super rugby..... the problem is, this young guy looks like he actually could be a pretty good player at S-15 level given half a chance.

Digby Ione spilt more pills than an epileptic pharmacist in his first 2 years of super rugby... but he turned out all right in the end. Alfi should be the last one shown the door IMO, but I guess the coach needs a scapegoat

 

[Slim 293]

Well they aimed the blame at the right people unlike those Brumby fans who just blame the ref for their bad performances. Remember vs the Hurricanes last year.

If you are not miserable about the Brumbies you must be smoking Bob Marley's special blend or something.

I don't think a single Waratahs' fan has blamed Jonathan Kaplan at anytime ever...

Personally, I think it's pretty pathetic to boo your own team...

 

[Slim 293]

The Blue Bloods:

http://www.smh.com.au/photogallery/...ue-bloods/20110325-1ca5i.html?selectedImage=1