“At the same time, if you want to live in that world and be part of it, you’re going to get this. I’m sure if somebody’s got enough technology to create something like that, they’ve got enough technology to get rid of it, so that stuff never happens.
“There are smarter people than me who can do that. I’ll stay in my lane – I’ll make sure my family know that’s not true – and I’m sure somebody can put an end to it.”
The most recent post on Facebook read: “The world of New Zealand rugby league is quietly mourning the passing of Emma Webster, the devoted wife of New Zealand Warriors head coach Andrew Webster.
A Facebook claims Andrew Webster’s wife, Emma, has died.
“Emma was known not only for her warmth and grace but also for her steadfast support, serving as a calming, unwavering presence behind one of the sport’s most respected figures.”
Webster tends to keep his private life out of the spotlight, but after winning the Dally M Coach of the Year in 2023, he was quick to credit his wife after receiving the award.
“She’s been amazing,” Webster said. “We moved countries, had a baby, I became a head coach, so there was a lot of pressure and a lot of things happening in a short amount of time.
“She just handled it in her stride and never complained once. She allowed me to chase my dreams and I’ll always be grateful for that.”
Other posts on the pages have included claims about players signing lifetime contracts with the Warriors, while others have alleged players skipped training to attend nightclubs.
Webster said he does not use social media because he thinks it is addictive.
“I know myself when I was on it, I could be sitting there dazing. It could be two hours later and I’d still be scrolling on my phone,” Webster said.
“If you want to be elite at anything you do, you’ve got to have a creative mind. You’ve got to be clear in what you do and, if you’re scrolling all the time, you’re just filling your head with crap information.”
Other pages and posts targeting Super Rugby teams, including one that claimed former All Blacks halfback Brad Weber had died of brain cancer, have been removed by Meta, the owner of Facebook.
Weber was furious after he was contacted by family and friends about the post.
“Had this sent to me by a few friends. Wtf is wrong with people?!” he wrote.
“Making up s*** like this for engagement. Worst thing is everyone in the comments believes it’s real. I don’t have brain cancer fwiw [for what it’s worth].”
Meta’s policy on misinformation states that it removes “misinformation where it is likely to directly contribute to the risk of imminent physical harm”.
The policy also says Meta tries to “focus on reducing” the prevalence of misinformation and foster productive dialogue.
Webster said social media had its uses, but urged his players to be careful on it.
“They don’t need me to be their dad all the time,” Webster said.
“They don’t need me giving them lectures on life’s lessons. “I’m here for them. We’ve had people far more qualified than me tell them what it does to the brain – how you can’t learn as well, how you can’t sleep at night.
“There are so many different reasons why you shouldn’t be on it, but at the same time, these players have a brand and they can further their careers by using it well.“
You’re only in this for a short time and, as long as they are using it in the right manner, I’m fully supportive, provided they know how to deal with this sort of stuff and can give themselves an out.”
The Warriors host the Sharks in Auckland on Saturday.
Ben Francis is an Auckland-based reporter for the New Zealand Herald who covers breaking sports news.