The Frownlow Medal

Is one act of public urination enough to earn a privileged position in The Frownlow Medal Hall of Fame?

Yes, just one.

Anthony Tupou hopes so.

The former Sydney Roosters and Cronulla Sharks NRL player was filmed in the act of public urination in Port Macquarie in 2008.

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 and players who received media attention in previous seasons, for similarly scandalous behaviour, and its inductees include Ben Cousins and Todd Carney.

Helping Tupou’s cause is the fact that the urination was conducted in the company of fellow exile to England, Willie Mason, who was voted the most hated player by NRL fans in 2007.

The back rower has recorded no other off-field indiscretions and is currently playing for the Wakefield Trinity Wildcats in England.

Tupou will find out in October if his errant pee was enough to earn a place in the Hall of Fame.

First published in August 2016