Absolutely true. And you, me, anyone else should not be made to feel uncomfortable at a rugby game. Do you not think a large fine and some educational work we around language would be more productive all round though? I’m sure that would have resulted in an honest apology after realising what’s been said too?

100% agree about the education point, however the current disciplinary rules don't appear to factor in rehabilitation and remorse. I wish they did.

I wasn't going to reply as it's a pointless argument, but...

Kudos to you.

I'll stick to being a realist and take emotion, or personal preferences out of the argument.

The quickest, easiest and most common sense way to stop the decline of the game is by having the very best product on the pitch. The only way to do that is by having the best players playing the game. Big players + big games = big crowds and big revenue.

Add another level to it - by your own definition you used the word minority. I have zero ways of proving it, but I doubt the top reason for why the majority of people (who aren't already fans) start to watch a sport isn't because of inclusive it is. They are more likely to see a good game and want to watch more.

Being a lovely sport is great (it really is), but when said sport is literally dying and starved of money, the very last thing it needs is to sabotage itself.

I'm sure there will be some great replies and finger wagging responses. I'm not trying to be harsh (although I recognise I am being) and I'm not saying it's how it should be. Beggars can't be choosers tho imo.

End of the day it’s rugby league, it’s a hard sport played by hard competitive people who will try their best to be their opposite number and if it means saying some nasty words to them then it happens. What are we going to have 26 priests playing against each other every week? Get a grip.

Players have to adopt that killer mindset especially if you are playing in the middle and become a mean nasty person otherwise you’re coming off second best. But I’ll guarantee once they’re off the pitch they won’t use those nasty words.

It you’ve played the game you’ll understand, or if you’ve played the game and don’t understand you probably played in the backs.

Chances are no fan would have heard McGuire say anything just the ref, so like a previous poster has said you’ve got a star player sat in the stands for 8 games Jesus wept.

The issue seems to be put on the game for enforcing the rules.

The rules are there for a reason.

It’s not the games responsibility to take accountability for the behaviour of its players.

It’s the responsibility of the players to take accountability for themselves and their actions or face the consequences.

The rules are in place, have been for some time, break the rules face the consequences.

Sledging is part of the game. There is a line though, if the line is crossed then take accountability and face the consequences.

Spot on.

Exactly. It all depends what was said.

Just because it's a tough sport doesn't mean we should allow certain things to be said.

what was said? if you dont know you cant comment.....

"Just the ref" makes it ok then?

Any wonder decent referees are choosing to walk away from the game.

If some of the things that have allegedly been said were said in the earshot of a police officer they may well have lead to the individual being arrested for an offence under the Public Order Act 1986.

Being a star player does not give you a free pass to say and do whatever you want without any consequences.

What was said is what an 8 year old would call another 8 year old in the play ground but apparently warrants an 8 game ban, same as what you’d get for sucker punching an unsuspecting victim, never realised calling someone a nasty name would warrant such a ban.

What Ban would you get on here for calling someone a Pr1ck?

Feel free, it’s just a word.

There are consequences, I didn’t go to the game so didn’t hear Josh McGuire say it, if I did I’d think he was a pillock but I’d understand whatever was said in the heat of battle was just that, and I’d wager in reality Josh McGuire would be a decent bloke who wouldn’t use such words.

The whole saying it in front of a police officer business, how many times have police split apart fights on a rugby pitch and then those players get tried by the law? It is a coliseum, a battle ground, a pitch, an arena where gladiators fight/compete and they’re not the brightest but they’re the toughest, and most competitive and things boil over but what I’ve learnt is rugby league people are the best people int he world, let’s judge Josh McGuire on his action in putting it right rather than a split second heat of the moment brain fart.

In day to day life the word he used was disgusting, but like life it isn’t just black and white, there are many grey areas and the rugby pitch is a massive grey area. If someone rugby tackled you walking around Argos you’d press charges, on a rugby pitch they’d get applauded, the rugby pitch is not civvie street. (For the record I’d never use that term, never heard it said for about 20 years either just in case of the one poster who is intent on trying to take offence or twist my words.)

If an 8 yr old called another 8 yr old this term in the playground in 2023, there would be pretty serious repercussions and questions asked to the parents of said child who are using it as an insult at home, enough for the kid to pick up on it and know that its weaponised.

In a time where the game is attempting to be more inclusive with PDRL and LDRL language like this is unacceptable in RL and in society.

Horrible human to use that word, hopefully a lengthy ban and some education on the topic would help Mcguire grow up a bit.