With respect, Ardie, you’re wrong and this is why
Hurricanes captain Ardie Savea has taken exception to Stuff’s coverage of the Josh Ioane story, taking myself and colleague Hamish McNeilly to task on social media.
A lot of this is just water off a duck’s back. Frankly, when you read what our female colleagues have to suffer on a regular basis the lot of the male journalist is good.
Yet, there are claims made by Savea that need to be addressed, particularly that my colleague went out of our way to ‘‘rubbish’’ the players and ‘‘make them look like criminals’’ and invited a lot of ‘‘hate’’ towards the players, potentially jeopardising their mental health.
There’s a lot in that, so let’s break it down into three parts and then expand into the protection rugby players in New Zealand actually get, with their messes frequently swept up by NZ Rugby and the players’ association.
First, on mental health. I admit from time to time I have not made as much of the injury status of some players, when it has been explained to me by rugby officials that doing so would have an impact on their mental health.
These occasions are rare, but I have no interest in harming somebody going through a difficult time. So, it’s demonstrably false that I play fast and loose with mental health.
Second, in terms of providing a safe place for players to talk about their experiences, and report on it positively, check out recent stories with Freedom Vahaakolo and Mitch Hunt. No one’s perfect of course, but journalists do try and, quite frankly, players often are their own worst enemies when it comes to coverage.
Third, to the Ioane story itself. The critical voices missing in Savea’s criticism are the ones in the story – older women: an enormously under-represented group in our communities. They have no real platforms, status or privilege, so when someone asks them about how things are on their street, they talk: and I’m listening.
When they say they have to close all their doors at night to sleep because of the Highlanders’ partying, or not sleep at all, I’m listening.
What I won’t do is listen to them and not report on their stories, and give the players a free pass.
It’s not my job.
Players are constantly feted, but they need to accept that at times not everyone in their community likes them, or their behaviours. If they can’t cop criticism maybe the bubble around them has become too much.
The reality is that New Zealand rugby players have it pretty good with the media here.
I grew up in the UK and have worked extensively in Australia, and players in New Zealand get away with what would be considered murder overseas.
The Chiefs’ Stripper-gate in 2016 is a case in point.
Players have silent leverage over journalists in New Zealand. In this small market, access matters. Ardie, journalists you know (and possibly deem the ‘good’ ones) have contacted me privately in support today, but they know better than to do it loudly.
But there comes a time when you have to draw a line, especially when you are called out publicly. We always try to be better, but we’re not the ones keeping the street up at night.