Do we as supporters take it for granted?
I know we expect the absolute best from our players and for our teams to win.. But these guys are humans. Sometimes for days, weeks, even months they are out of form because of their mental state - and not their physical ability. The whole Buddy situation kind of makes this hit home for me. We won't understand the pressures of being a high paid athlete with the pressure to perform week in week out as a burden and how badly that can effect ones mental health. Had no idea the guy had epilepsy.
I think as fans we can show a little more compassion and respect. Josh Reynolds is one that I have always assumed has had issues from a mental health perspective, hence the brain snaps, although nothing has been concerned. At times what we and the media say can tip a player over the edge. I believe that all players in the NRL are good at what they do, but what differentiates the good with the great and the greatest are their mental state and how they prepare mentally. As an example, guys like Cronk, Smith, JT, Graham etc are always mentally ready and rarely put in a bad performance. You think about Joey Johns and how he was able to perform while dealing with bipolar. Some players can cope, others unfortunately can't.
Larry Sanders is one that stands out too. A guy earning 50 million dollars in the NBA over a couple of years have it all away because he struggled to deal with his anxiety and what the pressures of playing in the NBA did to that.
Anyway. Just my 2 cents. Food for thought!
I know we expect the absolute best from our players and for our teams to win.. But these guys are humans. Sometimes for days, weeks, even months they are out of form because of their mental state - and not their physical ability. The whole Buddy situation kind of makes this hit home for me. We won't understand the pressures of being a high paid athlete with the pressure to perform week in week out as a burden and how badly that can effect ones mental health. Had no idea the guy had epilepsy.
I think as fans we can show a little more compassion and respect. Josh Reynolds is one that I have always assumed has had issues from a mental health perspective, hence the brain snaps, although nothing has been concerned. At times what we and the media say can tip a player over the edge. I believe that all players in the NRL are good at what they do, but what differentiates the good with the great and the greatest are their mental state and how they prepare mentally. As an example, guys like Cronk, Smith, JT, Graham etc are always mentally ready and rarely put in a bad performance. You think about Joey Johns and how he was able to perform while dealing with bipolar. Some players can cope, others unfortunately can't.
Larry Sanders is one that stands out too. A guy earning 50 million dollars in the NBA over a couple of years have it all away because he struggled to deal with his anxiety and what the pressures of playing in the NBA did to that.
Anyway. Just my 2 cents. Food for thought!
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