Lowe could face legal action over 'poof' comment

Former Kiwi Coach Graham Lowe. Photo / Wayne Drought

Former Kiwis and Queensland coach Graham Lowe could face legal action after wrongfully claiming in a speaking engagement that former player Mick Potter called gay Manly great Ian Roberts a "poof" during a game.

The Sydney Morning Herald has revealed that Lowe made the claim during a presentation in Auckland this year after showcasing an iconic photo of Roberts standing over Potter, who played for the Dragons, during a 1991 match.

"A gladiator in classic battle pose," read the words on the Powerpoint presentation accompanying the image.

"That guy was silly enough to call him a poof," Lowe allegedly told the room.

"I'm disappointed that he has used my image and name," Potter told the Sydney Morning Herald after viewing video of the presentation.

"It's wrong and false. I think I may seek some advice on this. Call it poor taste or form, bad judgment or whatever. It is slanderous. Anyway, he's mucked it up and made himself look pretty silly but it's a story to sell, whatever he's selling. It's just not factual."

When approached by the Herald, Lowe said he wanted to publicly apologise to Potter.

"If Mick says that, he did not say that, then I publicly apologise to him, I certainly had no intention of embarrassing him or for that matter Ian," Lowe stated.

"In fact I admired Mick for his courageous running style as a player. "