The keyboard cowards putting the boot into Latrell Mitchell need to grow up because, like me, they probably haven’t got a clue what he might be going through in his personal life or behind the scenes with South Sydney.
What I do know, from my own experiences, is that Mitchell and any other rugby league player for that matter going through a tough period on, or off the field, doesn’t need crackpots on social media attacking them.
They have families like all of us and they are not "fair game" for cowards and parasites who like to voice their opinions behind a keyboard.
Social media has its place, but unfortunately, it gives these cowards a voice to say things they would never have the courage to say to Mitchell’s face.
Anyone who wants to rubbish or bag Mitchell should do it to his face instead of hiding behind a keyboard.
There were no social media platforms when I played.
But I still copped a fair bit of criticism from a number of Sydney journos in the newspapers at the time who, when I saw them, wouldn’t even look me in the face.
I used their criticism to inspire me and I’m pretty sure the haters will inspire Latrell in the same way.
Latrell has already proven to everyone who follows the game that he is a pretty good player.
He has shown in the past when pushed, he can often produce his best football, and his best is pretty special.
Admittedly he has struggled since the hamstring injury which kept him out of Origin.
To be honest, he has been disappointing and not playing his best football for South Sydney at a time when the club needs him most.
But Latrell is too big, too strong, and too good not to come back bigger and better than ever.
Watching some games over the past month or so I have to say some referees and those people in the box (bunker) as well as some players must be on a completely different planet to me.
Some of the (officiating) calls and actions by a few players have been baffling, to say the least.
At this time of the year, with the finals on the doorstep, everyone involved in rugby league feels the pressure.
Mistakes will happen.
But some of the stupid things I’ve seen players and match officials do in recent weeks, they need a kick up the backside.
I find it hard to understand the lack of discipline being shown by some players so close to the finals when there is so much on the line.
Teams can’t afford to be missing players at this time of the year.
You can sense the disappointment it brings to their teammates and coach and literally feel the frustration of fans when a player has a brain explosion or meltdown with so much at stake.
They’ve come so far and then they stuff it all up on the edge of the finals.
It lets everyone down.
The referees feel the pressure of finals football just as much as the players.
They need to get the big calls right as well.
You wouldn’t be a referee for all the rice in China.
One questionable call can mean the difference in a tight game, but there’s usually next week.
In finals and especially the grand final, there is no tomorrow, they have to get it spot on.
The outcome of a game depends on them getting the big calls right.
They have the toughest job in the world but they chose to be referees.
They have the Bunker to help them but some of the calls lately have defied belief.
Referees are good people with the courage to take on a job that puts them in the firing line every time they pull out the whistle.
They do it knowing they aren’t going to get every call right.
Let’s just hope they get the big ones right in the finals.
