NRL urged to follow AFL lead with player weights amid brutal Wayne Bennett move
The Dolphins coach took a decisive step by sending Valynce Te Whare away for fitness training after he reported to pre-season training in an overweight condition. Last year, Te Whare, a center for the Dolphins, faced public scrutiny as he was excluded from pre-season training and explicitly instructed to shed weight if he aspired to play in the NRL. Wayne Bennett, the seasoned coach, disclosed to News Corp that Te Whare’s excessive weight and lack of fitness prompted the decision.
Bennett emphasized the necessity for optimal fitness in the NRL, stating that carrying excess weight is untenable in the contemporary style of play. Te Whare was likened to David ‘Coal Train’ Taylor, a former Brisbane and Queensland star known for fluctuating playing weight.
NRL urged to follow AFL lead with player weights amid brutal Wayne Bennett move
NRL urged to follow AFL lead with player weights amid brutal Wayne Bennett move
The question arises: Is it the public’s prerogative to be informed about professional athletes’ weight, and should they be subjected to the level of scrutiny Te Whare endured? This debate gains traction, especially in the aftermath of the AFL’s decision not to publish players’ weights in their official season guide.

Two contrasting viewpoints emerge on the matter. Some argue that professional athletes, as part of their commitment, should maintain strict physical levels, while others, taking a more contemporary stance, view it as body-shaming and a relic of the past.
NRL urged to follow AFL lead with player weights amid brutal Wayne Bennett move
NRL urged to follow AFL lead with player weights amid brutal Wayne Bennett move
Danni Rowlands, representing the Butterfly Foundation, an organization aiding those affected by body image issues and eating disorders, commends the AFL’s move to eliminate weight from player statistics. Rowlands advocates for a shift in mindset within the NRL, urging them to reconsider their stance on publishing player weights. Emphasizing that athletes are not public property, she underscores the need to prioritize education and awareness about the problematic nature of highlighting weight in players’ profiles. While the NRL has currently rejected mirroring the AFL’s decision, Rowlands expresses hope for positive changes to support players in terms of body image and eating disorders in the future.
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