There is a bit of talk around the culture of the Rebels, as if the entire squad are merrily tripping around the place bombed out of their skulls 24/7.
I do not believe for a second that is the case. I firmly believe that Hill, Delve and others have very strict ideas and rules around what is and isn't acceptable.
However, there are guys in the squad that are not only pushing the boundaries, but are making a clear decision to cross the lines around team ethics, and the 5 star culture.
Case in point, how many of the Rebels are going on twitter bagging team-mates, or just generally being a dick? How many are turning up late to training? How many are walking outside the team expectations? How many are repeat offenders?
Not very many, I would say.
The team got flogged on the weekend, and there were two ways to deal with that. One is to flog them to death on the paddock with extra training, and the other is to say that perhaps it should just be put into the background as an abberation and maintain morale and team cohesion with a bit of social bonding. There is absolutely nothing wrong with that.
As far as we know, 99% of the team behaved the way they were expected to behave.
The few, as always, are tarnishing the many.
Like many of the Rebels fans on these boards, I have spent time talking to most of the players. I defy anyone to say that they are not (mostly) humble, decent, hard working guys. Most of them give their all, day in and day out. Remember, there is a big difference between ability and effort. Are the results there? Are the guys playing well? No. Hell no. That just means they are a bottom ranked team, not a team full of pretenders and arseholes.
There is poison in the ranks. Without a doubt. But lance that boil cleanly and quickly before the poison spreads. Do that, and the external noise will stop.
Then we can focus on the on-field performances and the coaching staff, as is right and proper for a professional sporting team.