'Coconut' comment shows NRL has work to do - McFadden

Billy Moore on NRL 365 last night.

Billy Moore's controversial "coconut style' comment shows that the NRL still has work to do to in educating people involved in the game about racism, says Warriors coach Andrew McFadden.

McFadden accepts that Moore did not mean to cause offence with his comments on FOX Sports' NRL30 on Thursday night, while discussing the Warriors finals prospects with injured halfback Shaun Johnson missing from their line-up.

"I don't see them losing the ability to still score points," Moore said. "They get points because they play that coconut style, Polynesian sort of football... throwing it around."

McFadden described Moore's remarks as ignorant and indicative of the lack of understanding within the NRL, of Maori and Polynesian culture, but said the Warriors players were not overly alarmed by the comments.

"It is ignorance and I don't think there was any malice in it but it does show you that we've still got a bit of a way to go. They're some insensitive remarks that he's made," said McFadden.

"We've spoken about it as a group and as individuals but we're not going to make a big fuss out of it.

"The boys aren't too concerned with it, probably because there was no malice in it. But it's certainly something that the game's got to be aware of."

McFadden expressed disappointment that Moore's comments were made at a time when the furious debate around the relentless booing of Indigenous AFL player Adam Goodes was such a major issue in Australia.

"I've been following the Adam Goodes issue and all the debate around that so the timing of it is very poor. It's just a reminder that we've got a bit of a way to go as a society, for that equality."

Born and raised in Canberra, McFadden arrived in New Zealand prior to the 2013 NRL season with an open mind and attitude towards learning more about the local culture.

As much as he has learned and absorbed during his time in Auckland he says there are different stereotypes about the Warriors, and Maori and Polynesian players, that he says are simply untrue.

"I wanted to understand the Maori culture and people did say to me that 'it's different' and it is different," he said.

"And some of our culture here is different to a lot of teams but from my perspective there are a lot of stereotypes that just aren't true here as well."

The manner in which Australian television commentators often describe the Warriors as having a 'hulking forward pack' grates on McFadden, as does the widely held belief that Polynesian players need to be treated with kid-gloves and handled with care.

"It's just uninformed," he said. "For one, it's incorrect. We're not a big pack compared to some of the other teams in the competition. The fact that they keep running out that same message just means that they're not really looking.

"In days gone by the Warriors were big but you look at the Canberra and Bulldogs packs and they're a lot bigger than us.

"The other stereotype that has annoyed me is the thought that you've got to treat the Polynesian kids with a bit more sensitivity. It's just totally incorrect. They just need the same direction as anyone."

Fellow FOX Sports NRL commentator and former Australian and New South Wales halfback Brett Kimmorley has previously riled New Zealand viewers by describing the Warriors free-flowing playing style as "jungle-ball".

"Those remarks, they're insensitive and it just shows that people still need more education on this and what is appropriate," said McFadden. "It just shows you how far we've got to go."