What was Queensland player Sam Thaiday thinking when he likened last night’s State of Origin match to losing your virginity?

Clearly he wasn’t thinking, and it is just another example of rugby league taking one step forward then two steps back.

When asked his thoughts on the game by NSW legend Brad Fittler, Thaiday replied: “Like losing your virginity — it wasn’t nice but we got the job done.”

The interview was being broadcast live and you could see an uncomfortable Fittler quickly try to turn it around but the damage had already been done.

Thaiday seemed to think it was funny but to me it just put a dampener on what is always a much-anticipated night.

It is yet another bad look for rugby league, who have been trying in recent years to “clean up” the code but seem to experience indiscretion after indiscretion.

While Thaiday may have thought he was being funny, it sends the wrong message to the many supporters of the code. 

The NRL have been working hard to make the game a family game and this kind of comment ruins that hard work.

I am sure NRL headquarters will be in damage control today and I would expect yet another apology from another one of our so-called sporting idols.

As I continually tell our six-year-old son, “Don’t keep saying sorry. You know it’s wrong, just don’t do it in the first place.”

Of course, he is only six and still learning how to behave.

Grown men and people in these high-profile positions need to be the ones to change attitudes that these kind of comments have no place in the game.