Game of Throws

This week’s State of Origin match from Sydney was a hit and not miss affair. Paul Gallen’s classic one-two combination on Nate Myles just before half time is exempla. Neither punch missed; but also neither punch had a lasting effect, on or off the field. Nor will the criticism of it by hypocritical rugbyites, wowsers and other talk-back callers who claim this as “yet another” example of rugby league brutality. That criticism will subside and the game will continue. The reason why is that fights, brutal and otherwise, are part of the game—most games in most codes—and they do far less damage and even some good on the playing field than if elsewhere (uncontrolled) in society. I learnt to box as part of strength training in my days of playing rugby league. The only times I actually used that skill—and skill it is—were on the footie field. My fights were frequent but none but one had any lasting effect beyond the beer at the end of the game. If anything, they gave me the confidence to deal with other matters in my life then and now. So criticise the fight of Wednesday night all you like. That is your right. But be aware that most are unaware and don’t care. I certainly don’t. Besides and with age as a constant companion you learn, and I have learnt sometimes to my cost and never to my credit, that there are far more devastating ways of damaging a person than anything Paul Gallen threw at Nate Myles. That is the greater dismay.