Warriors ‘jungle ball’: Roach
LEAGUE great Steve ‘ Blocker’ Roach has described the Warriors’ style as playing ‘jungle ball’ football in their 26-22 loss to the Raiders on Saturday night.
Roach, who played 17 games for NSW and 19 for Australia, was the sideline pundit for the round 20 NRL game in Canberra.
Midway through the first half, with the score still 0-0, Roach said he had been impressed with how the Warriors had played, but did so in a way some may regard as highly offensive.
‘‘They look pretty structured early in this game of football,’’ Roach said.
‘‘We’re used to seeing them playing a bit of jungle ball, when they offload the football at every opportunity. But they’ve been patient so far and caused a couple of line dropouts.’’
Roach may have been trying to describe how the Warriors like to play expansive, off-the-cuff footy, but given the large number Polynesian players in the Warriors team, his remark could be deemed racist.
Later in the commentary Roach apologised for his comment.
This was the second time in as many years that a former league great, turned commentator, made an offensive remark about the Warriors on Australia’s Fox TV.
On NRL 360, Moore tried to explain how the Warriors would cope for the rest of the season without the injured Shaun Johnson.
‘‘They play that coconut style, Polynesian sort of football … throwing it around,’’ Moore said.
While many felt what Moore said was inappropriate, Warriors legend Jones didn’t feel Moore’s comments made him a racist.
‘‘I don’t think you can read too much into it,’’ said Jones at the time.
‘‘I think he was referring to the coconut style in the Islands of picking up a coconut and throwing it around like a ball.’’