‘Needed to satisfy my narcissism’ – Joe Marler clarifies controversial haka comments as England star reactivates social media account
Joe Marler in England training in 2024.
Joe Marler insisted that he was simply “trying to spark interest in a mega fixture” after causing a furore by criticising the haka.
The England prop lit the touchpaper ahead of their clash with the All Blacks at Twickenham by calling on the war dance to be “binned”.
Marler also branded the haka “ridiculous” on his X – formerly Twitter – account, leading to a backlash on social media and in New Zealand.
Back on X
He also took his account down in the wake of the storm, but the 34-year-old has now reactivated it and explained his reasoning for the posts.
“Context is everything. Just having a bit of fun trying to spark interest in a mega rugby fixture. Some wild responses. Big Love x,” he wrote on X.
Marler then followed up with, “also needed to satisfy my narcissism”.
The loosehead was named in the wider England squad for the Autumn Nations Series but he was not selected in the 23 for the clash with the All Blacks.
Steve Borthwick revealed his team four days before Saturday’s encounter, choosing Ellis Genge at loosehead with youngster Fin Baxter the prop replacement.
Marler’s comments on the haka came after Borthwick confirmed his squad to face New Zealand at Twickenham this weekend.
Those posts could backfire on the prop, as well as his England team-mates, after the tourists were provided with added motivation for the contest.
Joe Marler slams ‘ridiculous’ All Blacks haka as England star calls for war dance to be ‘binned’
Criticism
People back in New Zealand are already up in arms about it with Te Rūnanga o Toa Rangatira CEO Helmut Modlik among those to criticise the Englishman, stating that his words were “ill-judged”.
“For those who don’t know about the haka, who might speak ill of those cultural icons, it would be coming from a place of ignorance and would be ill-judged,” Modlik told Stuff.
“Remember, while it is part of a sporting spectacle, the haka is a cultural taonga, treasure, gifted to NZRU to perform respectfully, which they do now.”
ACT leader David Seymour also weighed in and suggested that Marler was simply unintelligent.
Seymour told reporters: “I love the haka. It wouldn’t be the All Blacks if they didn’t do the haka,” before asking: “Who’s this Joe Marler guy, I’ve never heard of him?”
When it was explained to him that Marler was an England prop, he quipped: “Well, in my experience I have met a few props with very high IQ, but very few of them. So it could be something in that area.”
