Here's an idea for Josh Dugan and Blake Ferguson when they decide to finish the last pineapple Breezer and climb down off the roof.
Go and grab yourself a replay of Cronulla's match against Gold Coast Titans at Sharks Stadium, and carefully study the last 20 minutes.
There's Paul Gallen, the captain who is under more pressure than any other player in the NRL right now. He is busted. Limping. Anguish writ large all over his face.
A trainer tries to attend to him, but Gallen waves him away as he takes his place in the defensive line.
When Gallen was asked, "What's next?" by a reporter after a victory as emotional as they come, his bewilderment at the question was almost palpable.
"Training tomorrow," the Sharks skipper growled.
It's been impossible not to think about Gallen and his Sharks teammates this week after they showed sidelined coach Shane Flanagan and his sacked football staff the ultimate sign of respect against the Titans last Sunday night.
Dugan and Ferguson might not like David Furner, but here's a newsflash - he's the coach.
Shane Watson, Mitchell Johnson, Usman Khawaja and James Pattinson might've thought the task set by Mickey Arthur was trivial, but here's a newsflash - he's the coach.
Digby Ioane might not understand why Ewen McKenzie stood him down following his involvement in an altercation at a Melbourne pub last weekend, but here's a newsflash - he's the coach.
Collingwood star Travis Cloke might consider it heavy-handed that he must work evenings for the Salvos for repeatedly parking in Gary Pert's car space, but here's a newsflash - he's the chief executive.
Let's not descend into an argument about Generation Y and kids these days and so forth.
But it is surely a rare breed of arrogance - at the very least stupidity - when two players like Dugan and Ferguson have priors for getting on the gibber juice, then do it again, and then decide to miss a recovery session after a loss, and then post photos of it on social media.
Rooftops were popular over the weekend.
On Saturday, Ioane and a whole bunch of Wallabies including Quade Cooper, James O'Connor and Kurtley Beale, posted images of themselves flexing up while wearing Speedos during a rooftop pool party.
Like Jarryd Hayne and Israel Folau, Dugan worships retired Baltimore Ravens linebacker and Super Bowl champion Ray Lewis.
So much so, the Raiders fullback had an image of Lewis tattooed on his left thigh.
As NFL devotees know, Lewis plea- bargained his way out of murder charges in 2000 when he provided testimony against two friends. That's Dugan's pin-up.
This sense of entitlement, this gangster or rapper or rockstar or NFL superstar persona that some footballers are taking on is wearing thin - especially with the public.
Get some perspective: you are footballers, in Australia. We all love you. But you are not Lionel Messi.
Right now, it feels appropriate to quote Jerry Maguire.
No, not the "you complete me" line but the part when he laid down the law to Rod Tidwell after a game.
"You are a paycheck player. You play with your head, not your heart. When you get on the field it's all about what you didn't get. Who's to blame. Who underthrew the pass. Who's got the contract you don't. Who's not giving you your love. You know what? That is not what inspires people. Shut up. Play the game. Play it from your heart."
https://www.foxsports.com.au/league...-a-reality-check/story-fn2mcuj6-1226598716049
Go and grab yourself a replay of Cronulla's match against Gold Coast Titans at Sharks Stadium, and carefully study the last 20 minutes.
There's Paul Gallen, the captain who is under more pressure than any other player in the NRL right now. He is busted. Limping. Anguish writ large all over his face.
A trainer tries to attend to him, but Gallen waves him away as he takes his place in the defensive line.
When Gallen was asked, "What's next?" by a reporter after a victory as emotional as they come, his bewilderment at the question was almost palpable.
"Training tomorrow," the Sharks skipper growled.
It's been impossible not to think about Gallen and his Sharks teammates this week after they showed sidelined coach Shane Flanagan and his sacked football staff the ultimate sign of respect against the Titans last Sunday night.
Dugan and Ferguson might not like David Furner, but here's a newsflash - he's the coach.
Shane Watson, Mitchell Johnson, Usman Khawaja and James Pattinson might've thought the task set by Mickey Arthur was trivial, but here's a newsflash - he's the coach.
Digby Ioane might not understand why Ewen McKenzie stood him down following his involvement in an altercation at a Melbourne pub last weekend, but here's a newsflash - he's the coach.
Collingwood star Travis Cloke might consider it heavy-handed that he must work evenings for the Salvos for repeatedly parking in Gary Pert's car space, but here's a newsflash - he's the chief executive.
Let's not descend into an argument about Generation Y and kids these days and so forth.
But it is surely a rare breed of arrogance - at the very least stupidity - when two players like Dugan and Ferguson have priors for getting on the gibber juice, then do it again, and then decide to miss a recovery session after a loss, and then post photos of it on social media.
Rooftops were popular over the weekend.
On Saturday, Ioane and a whole bunch of Wallabies including Quade Cooper, James O'Connor and Kurtley Beale, posted images of themselves flexing up while wearing Speedos during a rooftop pool party.
Like Jarryd Hayne and Israel Folau, Dugan worships retired Baltimore Ravens linebacker and Super Bowl champion Ray Lewis.
So much so, the Raiders fullback had an image of Lewis tattooed on his left thigh.
As NFL devotees know, Lewis plea- bargained his way out of murder charges in 2000 when he provided testimony against two friends. That's Dugan's pin-up.
This sense of entitlement, this gangster or rapper or rockstar or NFL superstar persona that some footballers are taking on is wearing thin - especially with the public.
Get some perspective: you are footballers, in Australia. We all love you. But you are not Lionel Messi.
Right now, it feels appropriate to quote Jerry Maguire.
No, not the "you complete me" line but the part when he laid down the law to Rod Tidwell after a game.
"You are a paycheck player. You play with your head, not your heart. When you get on the field it's all about what you didn't get. Who's to blame. Who underthrew the pass. Who's got the contract you don't. Who's not giving you your love. You know what? That is not what inspires people. Shut up. Play the game. Play it from your heart."
https://www.foxsports.com.au/league...-a-reality-check/story-fn2mcuj6-1226598716049
