He believed that the media, smart lawyers and concerned doctors would eventually have their way in watering this game down to nothing more than glorified touch football. Fighting on: Anthony Mundine climbed off the canvas five times during his loss on Wednesday. Credit:Marina Neil He believed those in charge of running the game would not have the conviction to protect the game against such opinions and that negative media publicity would eventually weaken their resolve to maintain the kind of game to which the majority of football fans are drawn. He said it probably wouldn’t happen in our lifetime, but he confidently predicted that eventually the popularity of the game would wane and the future of rugby league as we know it was in serious jeopardy. I often think of that conversation. At the time I thought he was being overly pessimistic and exaggerating his point. Now I’m not so sure.

Sometimes I really wonder exactly what kind of game we are heading towards if we continue down the path we have taken in recent years. I have come to the realisation that it is a complete waste of time getting into debates on issues such as judiciaries, rules and interpretations, refereeing, shoulder charges, concussion rules, tackling techniques, lifting tackles, wrestles, dangerous throws, tackle zones and interchange rules. It is difficult to argue with people who take the moral high ground. It is virtually impossible to argue with people who espouse opinions, even though they’ve never actually played the game or have any worthwhile knowledge or qualifications to speak on the issues. It appears people have a real problem distinguishing between the professional form of the game and the game they may have played as a kid or in the school playground during PE classes.

I understand their concerns and I totally get the fear they have when they say they don’t want their son playing in the violence of the NRL. Well, chances are you will never have to worry about it. Only a very minute percentage of kids who take up this game are capable of actually making it to this level – and I can assure you they are wired very differently to the average kid playing junior league. Junior league is safer than ever before. That’s a good thing, because the more kids who actually get to participate in this sport and experience the joy of being part of a team, the better. The junior level of the sport is about healthy lifestyles, participation and fun. The professional game is completely different. It’s about winning and proving yourself in this elite and demanding environment. For many, the professional game is also about money – and it is an undeniable fact that the winners make the most money.

There can be no doubt that society’s values and opinions have changed. I can’t deny that today’s world is very different to the world I knew growing up. Most of it has changed for the better. Mind you, when I was growing up, we didn’t have drive-by shootings and stabbings every night in our suburb as they have today. Not that I got to travel much on a plane when I was growing up either – but we certainly didn’t have to line up to get x-rayed at the gates to see if we were carrying weapons or something that might blow up the plane. But that’s the world we live in today. I can’t look at the world as I would like to be. I have to look at the world as it is. We now live in the age of convenience and entitlement. People have spent a lot of time working out ways to make life easier and people are more demanding on the quality they receive.

They also want it for nothing and they want it right away. Crikey, some people go into meltdown if the TV show they are watching is not being shown in high definition! It’s apparently a massive inconvenience. We also live in the era of instant information. Through today’s vast social media platforms, people have the opportunity to express their opinions and campaign for a cause. In the past, the odd “letter to the editor” or “phone call to the switchboard” didn’t really have much impact at all. In today’s world, the avalanche of public opinion through social media does have an influence. Governments, business leaders and decision makers take very serious notice of these impromptu opinion polls. It’s certainly had an effect on many aspects of rugby league. Rules, interpretations, refereeing, salary capping, pricing – just about everything has been influenced in some way, shape or form by knee-jerk reactions to negative media or public opinion.

But is it really the popular opinion of the public, or merely the opinion of those who argue the loudest? That’s where our game’s leaders need to be smart enough to realise the difference, and strong enough to make decisions accordingly. I don’t think we have shown enough strength on a number of issues. I accept I am probably a dinosaur on most issues. A quick story to finish if I may, though. I paid to watch the Anthony Mundine fight the other night. I always support the champ Mundine. I love to see him to do well. In the fight immediately before the Mundine fight, the undefeated champion walked straight into a strong right hand punch and hit the canvas.

He rose at the count of eight and although a little wobbly on his feet, nodded to the referee he was ok to continue. Twenty seconds later he was knocked out cold by a barrage of blows to which he could offer little defence. The commentators screamed their disapproval. They shouted that in this age where concussion laws and football codes being held to account on head knocks, this fight should’ve been stopped after the first knock down because it was obvious this man was hurt. Fair enough, too, I guess. No one wants to see someone badly hurt. Less than hour later and Anthony Mundine had just hit the canvas for the fifth time during his bout with the powerful and relentless Joshua Clottey. On this occasion the commentators lauded the toughness of Mundine as he kept getting to his feet to fight on. They claimed that if Mundine could hang on and last the distance, it would be one of the most courageous and defining performances of his career.

Mundine went the distance and the commentators were 100 per cent correct. I admired Mundine for what he did in this fight. Despite losing, I think his courage and heroic efforts finally silenced anyone who has ever bagged this bloke throughout his illustrious sporting endeavours. What Mundine did in getting up off the canvas and gutsing his way to the final bell, is the guy we would all like to be. I was full of admiration. But here we saw within the space of an hour, two conflicting opinions of what should happen when a fighter is knocked senseless. Maybe people really can’t make up their minds on what they want to see.

A few weeks ago, I saw Canterbury Bulldogs hard man James Graham perform similar heroics in his side’s victory against the Melbourne Storm. The big English forward was knocked from pillar to post. He wobbled a few times but never at any stage took his eyes off his opponents and kept coming back for more. Towards the end of the game he crashed over alongside the posts for a try. His team mates mobbed him, hollering and patting him on the head in recognition and appreciation of his courage and leadership. Right at that point I’m thinking, “That’s the guy James Graham wants to be”. In truth, that’s the guy we all want to be. As kids we daydream about being that guy that takes the heavy knocks and keeps persevering until he succeeds in the end. The history of this game is full of such inspirational stories. We all want to be “that guy”. I don’t expect everyone to understand why we feel that way. But that’s just how we footballers are wired.

It’s a sign of the times though, that from now on, such heroics will no longer be possible. In fact, they won’t be tolerated. They will be fined. Loading Fair enough I suppose. No one likes to see people badly hurt. Like I said, it’s no good me getting into a debate about such things.