This article exists as part of the online archive for HuffPost Australia, which closed in 2021.

Josh Reynolds The Butt Of Jokes After Doing a 'Hopoate' On Aidan Sezer in Bulldogs Raiders NRL Game

Yet Again, The NRL Is The Butt Of A Very Dirty Joke
YouTube

Rugby league is the butt of jokes again, and the finger of blame is pointed squarely at Canterbury Bulldogs player Josh Reynolds. Which is a much better place to point a finger than where Reynolds himself did.

In the Monday night NRL match between the Canterbury Bulldogs and Canberra Raiders, Reynolds -- a 26-year-old former State of Origin player whose nickname was already "Grub" -- did this.

Yeah, but why did he do it?

Ohhhh, well that explains it. Except for the part where it doesn't explain anything at all. Meanwhile Sezer had this to say:

Which didn't explain much either, but at least we can do like Sezer said and sit on our backsides and all relax. No guys, nobody's angry. We are kind of bemused, though.

The incident drew instant comparisons to the infamous John Hopoate incidents in 2001, when the former NRL star -- who later became a boxer and had several serious run-ins with the law -- got a little creative with his own finger.

There are YouTube videos galore of the phenomenon which Roy and HG memorably christened "Date Gate" which we won't sully this page with, even though we're usually all for, ahem, "digital" media. In an interesting twist, Hopoate's son Will now plays for the Bulldogs at fullback.

There was one other touching incident in this match which for the record the Raiders won 22-8. Who says rugby league players aren't sensitive?

Close
This article exists as part of the online archive for HuffPost Australia. Certain site features have been disabled. If you have questions or concerns, please check our FAQ or contact support@huffpost.com.