Anthony Albanese’s Sports Minister Has Accused Him Of Being A Cheat
Barnaby Joyce's loyalty has also been brought into question.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has landed himself in hot water after being accused of cheating in Tuesday morning’s parliamentary game of State of Origin — yes, a real thing.
New South Wales and Queensland politicians battled it out in a morning game of touch rugby organised by the Parliamentary Friends of Rugby League group in what can only be described as the lamest rendition of the state vs state, mate vs mate game.
But the leader of the country, the man we are supposed to be able to trust, has found himself embroiled in a political scandal after his own Sports Minister Anika Wells accused him of being a cheat.
Wells argues she tapped Albanese before he scored a try, but Albanese reckons he scored it fair and square — proving that we probably need a taxpayer-funded video ref.
Glad to help NSW win the 4th game of the State of Origin series at Parliament. pic.twitter.com/X5U9etdH9M
— Anthony Albanese (@AlboMP) August 1, 2022
But it wasn’t just Albanese that caused a stir in the match, with former Wallaby, now-Senator and absolute unit David Pocock donning a Queensland jersey despite being an ACT representative. Apart from the obvious fact that he’s built like he could land any other politician in the ICU if given the opportunity to tackle them, Pocock does not qualify to play for the state.
According to the official NRL State of Origin rules, you are only eligible to play for a state if you resided there prior to your 13th birthday, but Pocock — born in South Africa and raised in Zimbabwe — didn’t move to Queensland until 2002, when he was 14.
While Nine News reporter Charles Croucher tried to claim that “he was a Queenslander” because he played junior footy for the state, the rule book says otherwise.
Presumably trying to dodge accountability for his alleged cheating, Albanese argued this is the greatest scandal since Greg Inglis playing for Queensland.
“I can report the greatest scandal since (Greg Inglis) playing for Queensland. David Pocock from the ACT pulling on a Queensland jumper,” Albanese told the Today show, asserting that the game should’ve ended after his try. “They will stop at nothing.”
Barnaby Joyce, who politically represents the NSW seat of New England, also played for the Maroons — proving that loyalty means absolutely nothing to these people. “Look, there should be an inquiry into some of these players and where they are playing for, I tell you,” Albanese said.
The game ended 3-1, with the Blues securing the victory once again thanks — in part — to a potentially dodgy Prime Ministerial try.
Junkee has reached out to David Pocock for comment on his eligibility.