Image of Scott Morrison ‘drinking a beer’ at the NRL in Fiji causes a huge stir online 

‘This shot brings home the bogan’: Sneering snowflakes slam Scott Morrison for chugging a beer while running the water for the Aussie league team in Fiji

  • Prime Minister Scott Morrison was snapped drinking beer at NRL friendly match 
  • Picture of Mr Morrison in Fiji on Friday was shared online and divided opinion 
  • Some described it as ‘bogan’ while others defended him drinking at the footy
  • He was also compared to former prime minister Bob Hawke amid the debate 

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has been blasted after appearing to down a can of beer at an international rugby league game in Fiji. 

Mr Morrison was acting as a ‘water boy’ during the Kangaroos’ friendly match against Fiji at ANZ Stadium in Suva on Friday when he knocked back the drink in the stands.  

An unflattering photograph of the 51-year-old drinking quickly did the rounds on social media, sparking fierce debate on whether the act was appropriate or not. 

An unflattering photo of Scott Morrison downing a can of what appeared to be beer in the stands quickly sparked outrage 

Mr Morrison acted as a 'water boy' during the Kangaroos' friendly match with Fiji in Suva on Friday

Mr Morrison acted as a ‘water boy’ during the Kangaroos’ friendly match with Fiji in Suva on Friday

‘This shot brings home the bogan,’ one person wrote on Twitter. 

‘Maybe our PM shouldn’t be seen swilling beer at the footy – whilst on the job – when he is the leader of a nation with an epidemic of domestic violence which has a statistically higher number of assaults following sporting matches and linked to alcohol consumption,’ another said. 

‘I’m a true blue bogan and I am beyond embarrassed by this clown’s antics,’ wrote another commenter. 

Others jumped to Mr Morrison’s defence and questioned why it was deemed inappropriate to drink alcohol at a game of rugby league.

‘Having a beer at the footy? What’s wrong with that?’ said one.

‘Drinking a single beer with a national team – oh, the outrage!’ joked another.

Some viewers criticised Mr Morrison for his choice of beverage and how he presented himself

Some viewers criticised Mr Morrison for his choice of beverage and how he presented himself

People were quick to question whether the late Bob Hawke would receive the same backlash for drinking a beer - something he was often seen doing in public after he left office

People were quick to question whether the late Bob Hawke would receive the same backlash for drinking a beer – something he was often seen doing in public after he left office

But many determined Mr Morrison’s presentation was the issue, rather than the act of drinking beer.

‘It’s Morrison’s demeanor at the game not the beverage he is drinking,’ one said. 

‘Agree, the posture, the clothing, the comparison with the people around the pm (who also don’t look comfortable) all say ‘inappropriate’. The beer is not the issue,’ added another.  

The image was also shared by ABC journalist Matt Bevan, who questioned whether late Australian prime minister Bob Hawke would receive the same backlash for drinking a beer.

‘Come on guys if Hawkie was doing this we’d all be cheering just chill out a bit,’ he wrote.

Other's jumped to Mr Morrison's defence and questioned why it was deemed inappropriate to drink alcohol at an NRL game

Other’s jumped to Mr Morrison’s defence and questioned why it was deemed inappropriate to drink alcohol at an NRL game

People were quick to point out that Mr Hawke, who was famous for skolling beers in his later years, abstained from alcohol while leading the country. 

Mr Hawke’s daughter Sue Pieters-Hawke also added her two cents to the Twitter debate.

‘Comparing them is like chalk and cheese, to put it mildly,’ she tweeted.

‘Can you imagine Scomo campaigning against apartheid or for higher wages, for starters?’

Mr Bevan later claimed his ‘day on Twitter’ involved 1500 users telling him to delete his account for claiming both leaders were ‘fine’ to drink alcohol. 

Mr Morrison was also snapped running out drinks to the Australian squad during their 51 to 10 victory.    

Commentators and footy fans were highly amused by the fact the man dashing across the field with no shoes or socks on was in charge of running a country.

‘The water boy doesn’t come much more prestigious than this,’ the Kangaroos captioned their Instagram post of the moment.

Mr Morrison was also compared to former Prime Minister Bob Hawke who was notorious for sculling beers

Mr Morrison was also compared to former Prime Minister Bob Hawke who was notorious for sculling beers 

The image was also shared by ABC journalist Matt Bevan, who said: 'Come on guys if Hawkie was doing this we'd all be cheering just chill out a bit'

The image was also shared by ABC journalist Matt Bevan, who said: ‘Come on guys if Hawkie was doing this we’d all be cheering just chill out a bit’

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