NSW Premier Mike Baird’s new Lockout Laws have been slammed in a joint statement from Sydney based footballers furious at the early closure of their favourite high performance centres in King’s Cross.
Players from across the four codes claim the law creates an unfair advantage for players based in other Australian states and across the Tasman, who are free to showcase the skills and dedication which earn nominations for the country’s most toughly contested inter-code award.
The Frownlow Medal is awarded to the player whose off field demeanour epitomises the values of the modern day footballer and draws attention to the status of footballers as role models to young Australians. It covers Australia’s four major football codes; the National Rugby League (NRL), Australian Football League (AFL), the A-League (Football) and Rugby Union’s Super Rugby competition. The first medal was awarded to Sydney Roosters and New Zealand representative Shaun Kenny-Dowall in 2015.
The Frownlow Medal Hall of Fame honours former players who receive media attention for similarly scandalous behaviour and its inductees include Ben Cousins and Todd Carney.
Players blamed various motives for the introduction of the law.
NRL players are adamant it is another Queensland Rugby League conspiracy designed to prevent the NSW Origin players from properly bonding, while AFL fans cite the existence of a mole within the Baird ministry still angry at the relocation of his beloved South Melbourne Swans.
Another theory points the finger at deceitful backroom political deals forged in the halls of national parliament which are aimed at bolstering the chances of players from the ACT Brumbies.
Further sources claim Mr. Baird himself was discovered at Star City in a covert rendezvous with Hall of Fame inductee Ben Cousins discussing methods by which current players could be prevented from emulating the hedonistic performances of Perth’s favourite son.
The joint statement then outlined the players’ intention to fight the for law to be rescinded, or just wait for the opening of a new casino at Barrangaroo.
First published in May 2016.
Image: Nuna
The Frownlow Medal 