http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/nrl-furore-over-gangsta-gaffes/story-e6frexnr-1226019395712
A LOVE heart, a family gesture or sheer irresponsibility? Few people can claim they haven't played up for a group photo but the pranks turned a little sour for the NRL's gangsta wannabes yesterday.
Manly Sea Eagles powerhouse Tony Williams was reprimanded for displaying hand symbols that are linked to American rap gangs while posing for a Sea Eagles team photo published in The Daily Telegraph this week.
Three other players are under scrutiny for similar hand gestures that appear to be gang or tribal-related.
Some may think the gestures were merely harmless fun but yesterday it set off the dog whistles in the land of talkback and through the NRL clubs involved.
Of all the clubs, Manly take the matter most seriously.
Williams admitted to Manly officials that his hand signal was based on those used by the notorious Eastside and Westside rap gangs in the US.
Sydney Roosters players Jared Waerea-Hargreaves and Mose Masoe were yesterday investigated over hand signals in the Roosters' team photo but club officials claimed there was "nothing sinister".
Canterbury player Junior Tia-Kilifi was also caught displaying a hand gesture in the Bulldogs' team photo.
"I didn't know what the sign meant but we have spoken to Tony and told him it is unacceptable," senior Manly official Peter Peters said.
"Tony accepted that. They [the signs] will no longer be seen in any Manly team photos."
A former detective took a hard line on the pranks, insisting players who use finger signs to promote gangs were "idiots who should grow up".
Dr Michael Kennedy, a former police detective who is now a senior lecturer of policing at the University of Western Sydney, was angered by the players' actions."It says more about their intellectual capacity than their football ability," he said. "They are idiots. It is superficial crap. These guys aren't gangsters. The Polynesian culture identifies with the rap and gangster stuff. With celebrity status comes responsibility. They should grow up."Roosters CEO Steve Noyce stressed Waerea-Hargreaves and Masoe were not promoting gangs.
"Jared said it is a symbol that represents his family," Noyce said.
"There is nothing sinister. And Mose just said he was relaxing his hand."
Penrith hooker Masada Iosefa was also photographed showing a hand symbol but told Panthers officials that it was simply a love heart.
NRL chief executive David Gallop said players had to be careful their actions were not misinterpreted."Players need to be careful that things they do are not misinterpreted but equally they are entitled to not be criticised if their intentions are innocent."
A LOVE heart, a family gesture or sheer irresponsibility? Few people can claim they haven't played up for a group photo but the pranks turned a little sour for the NRL's gangsta wannabes yesterday.
Manly Sea Eagles powerhouse Tony Williams was reprimanded for displaying hand symbols that are linked to American rap gangs while posing for a Sea Eagles team photo published in The Daily Telegraph this week.
Three other players are under scrutiny for similar hand gestures that appear to be gang or tribal-related.
Some may think the gestures were merely harmless fun but yesterday it set off the dog whistles in the land of talkback and through the NRL clubs involved.
Of all the clubs, Manly take the matter most seriously.
Williams admitted to Manly officials that his hand signal was based on those used by the notorious Eastside and Westside rap gangs in the US.
Sydney Roosters players Jared Waerea-Hargreaves and Mose Masoe were yesterday investigated over hand signals in the Roosters' team photo but club officials claimed there was "nothing sinister".
Canterbury player Junior Tia-Kilifi was also caught displaying a hand gesture in the Bulldogs' team photo.
"I didn't know what the sign meant but we have spoken to Tony and told him it is unacceptable," senior Manly official Peter Peters said.
"Tony accepted that. They [the signs] will no longer be seen in any Manly team photos."
A former detective took a hard line on the pranks, insisting players who use finger signs to promote gangs were "idiots who should grow up".
Dr Michael Kennedy, a former police detective who is now a senior lecturer of policing at the University of Western Sydney, was angered by the players' actions."It says more about their intellectual capacity than their football ability," he said. "They are idiots. It is superficial crap. These guys aren't gangsters. The Polynesian culture identifies with the rap and gangster stuff. With celebrity status comes responsibility. They should grow up."Roosters CEO Steve Noyce stressed Waerea-Hargreaves and Masoe were not promoting gangs.
"Jared said it is a symbol that represents his family," Noyce said.
"There is nothing sinister. And Mose just said he was relaxing his hand."
Penrith hooker Masada Iosefa was also photographed showing a hand symbol but told Panthers officials that it was simply a love heart.
NRL chief executive David Gallop said players had to be careful their actions were not misinterpreted."Players need to be careful that things they do are not misinterpreted but equally they are entitled to not be criticised if their intentions are innocent."
