Not at all, I clarified that in the sentance you quoted, clearly.

I remember being at Widnes when Alan Tait was in the news for the “collection bottle” incident. Being full back he took a lot of stick from us behind the sticks. Remember ‘Arsenal Al’ being on great form that night – absolutely hilarious!!!! “hand’s on your wallets lads….Taity’s here!”



He will get stick for sure – he will just have to put up with it. Hope it motivates him to score more
it may even stop dogs running on to the pitch

I totally agree

It was John Devereux not Tait. Also Devereux never played full back. Absolutely hilarious

i rememebr feeling a sinking feeling after the saints playoff match.

It was looking fixable till we starting chanting at James Graham. We start chating... a few mins later he scores a try.

If J.M reproduces that kind of turn around from chant to score. It will be a far from sinking feeling.

Theres no "Smith [imight[/i have meant it that way". He DID NOT say what the writer has implied.

Mini Monas will be fine and apparently it may attract new fans

Seriously though, he did this thing for a laugh in the first place - so he will have to just laugh off any abuse he gets in return, it's the only way really - all in context.

Any serious abuse should be treated like any other serious abuse at rugby grounds. He's got my protection and support in that respect. He is indeed "one of us"

What a joke from tony smith; and comparing it to homophobic chants....

Pathetic comment by Smith how is being gay which is a genetic trait comparable to performing a sex act on a dog?

he doesn't compare it to the homophobic chants.. some of you really should learn how to read properly.

Here... this should help some of the less well educated forum users..

What abuse can he get? The odd chant? Can't be any worse than what Gerrard, Cole or Rooney get. I'm sure he's massively bothered, as I've said before, he'll probably struggle to understand most of the abuse as he probably isn't fluent in the incoherent ramble our nearest neighbours speak.

I've heard it runs in the family.

Even the cheerleaders are recruiting new talent

Smith's comments can only possibly serve to make things worse, and if his genuine intention was to protect Joel (as his comments suggest) then really he shouldn't have said anything at all. He must have known that no possible good could come of him asking SL fans not to chant at him?!

It's like the Dad who asks the kids at school to stop bullying his son.

On the chants themselves (regardless of whether Smith commented or not)... One person here had it spot on (sorry can't be bothered finding the quote!)... he did it for a laugh, thus he'll need to just laugh it off. If I'm totally honest, I don't think he deserved to lose his job over it in the first place, I mean he's a rugby player (big daft lads and all that), I certainly think getting sacked from your job, and ultimately having to leave the country because you were a bit pi[iss[/ied up with a few mates is over the top to say the least.

I honestly couldn't really give a monkeys what he did after a few beers, that said... I will be joining in with any chants when he gets to Headingley, not because I care what he did, or because I have a problem with what he did, or because I think he deserved to lose his job, but just because it's all part of the fun of match day. It's like booing at a pantomime when the "baddy" comes on. I think James Graham is a great player, hard worker, meter maker, unquestionable dedication but he whilst he plays for Saints, and I support Leeds, he will remain a Fat Ginger Ba***rd. If he ever moved to Leeds (and I'd have him too!) I'd be the first to argue that it's muscle and he's Strawberry blonde.


If Monaghan had signed for us, I'd have been grateful that a load of bo[ill[/iocks media hype has meant we've ended up with an Australian International Centre, and do my best to drown out the oppositions chants, as it stands, I'm the opposition and will be trying to get my chants heard. That's just how this "supporter" thing works.

Who's getting hurt with the chants? I mean REALLY, properly... who's getting hurt? Nobody. These boys take hits to the head & punch each other in the face, then share beers/bunks on tour with the International side, you're telling me he can't handle the chants?

I'm 28 and have no hair whatsoever, like properly none. I don't cry every time one of my mates calls me baldy. I wouldn't even cry if a gang of strangers started a bald chant when I was shopping in the Asda, and I CERTAINLY do not need my boss asking colleagues not to call me it (actually I work for myself but the point stands).

Sorry, this ended up pretty long!!

Summary:
Comments - Shouldn't have made them. Done no good whatsoever. Shocked at Mr. Smith to be honest.
Chants - It's part of his job and more fool him if he lets it get to him. Which I honestly don't think he will, I think he'll just get on with it.

Good post.

Just make sure you and your fellow Leeds fans chant with "thought and compassion" though

I know one guy who may be a bit worried.....

Have to admit, think I'd probably chuckle if the banter was well humoured, towards him !!!

3,000 away fans, singing "how much is that doggy in the window" all in tandum, for example !?!?!?!???!!!! lol

Typical dire double standards yet again. Some other team has wrong doers in its midst and alls fair in love and war but when its dire with the wrong doer in its midst its,leave us alone or we want you fined !!!!
Smith and you other chavs want to get used to other people having views,opinions and freedom to chant when and what they want just as the dire clowns do and have in the past. He will get stick,get used to it and either igore or accept but dont act like spoilt kids and ask others not to call your player names !!! FFS sticks & stones...

It'll all fall on how Wire do. If they are top of the tree, injury free and storming away, any heckles will fall on deaf ears and look pretty silly if he's running in try after try.

If Wire lose a couple to injury and drop a few unexpected games and Monaghan has a King-esque slow start it could be a lot of fun.

kin ell.......have the schools in Saints and wigan re-opened since the big freeze of '86..it appears not


Smith [size=140:rdr4f4gi=#FF0000:rdr4f4giacknowledges:rdr4f4gi[/size:rdr4f4gi that opposition fans are eagerly awaiting their first glimpse of Monaghan. He is also [size=140:rdr4f4gi=#FF0000:rdr4f4giaware:rdr4f4gi[/size:rdr4f4gi that the Origin star will be[size=140:rdr4f4gi=#FF0000:rdr4f4gi subjected to a verbal barrage:rdr4f4gi[/size:rdr4f4gi over his simulated sex act with a dog,

"=#FF0000:rdr4f4gi[size=140:rdr4f4giIf it's good fun then fair enough[/size:rdr4f4gi:rdr4f4gi, but if it goes overboard there are rules and regulations," Smith warned.

"[size=170:rdr4f4gi=#FF0000:rdr4f4giJoel is fine with it and knows he will cop some:rdr4f4gi[/size do his talking on the field."




maybe our friends from Wigan and Saint Helens could tell us what they are upset about? as good natured verbal abuse is quite clearly being accepted by the coach, we are not even taking the stance of abuse is abuse whatever the nature are we ?

so please feel free to abuse monaghan you have the coach's blessing. but stop coming on here spouting even more drivel than usual.

One easy way to negate the hostile chants would be for JM to have something like "Who let the dogs out?" as his try scoring music

yet again you rear your ill informed head, read what TS says again & you'll clearly see he doesn't you melon!

The problem with the article is the comment by the writer that Smith believes there is a precedent he can use to silence abusive fans.

I don't believe that Smith drew a comparison between the two, but the writer uses the word "precedent". A quick trip to an online dictionary gave this definition of that word:

"a legal decision or form of proceeding serving as an authoritative rule or pattern in future similar or analogous cases."

The cases are similar in that they involve abuse (or potential abuse) but are also [uvery[/u different. Given the problems the game has had relating to homophobia I doubt the RFL will be pleased to see this kind of story - it's obvious that all leading figures in the game should be very careful about what they say on the Thomas case and if they are misquoted or wrongly quoted or the article doesn't reflect their views, as I'm sure is the case here, they should set the record straight immediately.

I think it would be best for Smith, Warrington and the game if a clarificatory statement could be issued by the club/Smith making it clear that Smith did not compare the two situations and if he did refer to the Thomas case in the interview it was merely to point out that there is a disciplinary procedure for abusive chanting. Wire fans can stick their heads in the sand if they want. As I Wigan fan, if we were in the same situation I would want Madge and the club to clarify what was said right away.