Despite all the recent bad press received on rugby league and even junior rugby league, I was not surprised by the instant reaction of everybody concerned regarding the unfortunate accident.

The game, the players, the score all were instantly forgotten as all attention was directed at the injured player and supplying him with the care he needed.

The referees, team coaching staff and the ground staff of the hosting club worked quickly and efficiently to support the injured player and myself.

It was very obvious that everybody there was more focused on the players and not the importance of the semi-final game.

Officials were allowed to dedicate themselves to everything that was necessary to help the injured boy, the ambulance quickly arrived and able to do their job without any interference

It should also be remembered that this game was one of several being played between teams from different cities and towns, a further credit to the club hosting the games.

They had a proper and well-organised system in place to make sure everybody was looked after.

I wish to personally thank all of those referees and other officials who provided that much-needed support to both myself and my grandson, especially as both of his parents were unable to attend due to work commitments.

I want to also thanks Kale Popple, the head referee at the ground , and Danny Stevens, another player’s father, who both went out of their way to comfort and support both of us.

This is what junior rugby league should be about, and I can honestly say that here in Group 9 CRL, junior rugby league is in safe hands.

At every game I have attended I have seen the same dedication to what it should all be about. 

Let some of the many good stories be told rather than the odd bad ones.

IN REGARDS to same sex marriage, the one thing missing in the debate is children.

Children have the right to a mother and a father. Marriage is between a man and a woman to love and have a family.

When a male partner says that marriage is the word missing, and with the word marriage they can now have a family, what you need is a woman to produce a baby and what of the father?

What kind of society are we looking forward to in 50 years’ time?

Same sex people have the right to be together but they do not have the right to use the word marriage.

Marriage is between a man and a woman, not a word to be used for a same-sex couple.

Use another word to be united together, something like til death do us part.

To use the word marriage is to diminish what the very word stands for.

Every daughter and son needs a mother and father, and children need the guidance of a mother’s love.

Nothing can replace that and a father. 

Nothing at all.

There is a big difference, however, between dealing with the unintended reality of single parenthood and planning from the beginning artificially to create an alternative family that deliberately deprives a child of a mother and father, and the knowledge of their heritage.