NRL Legend's Unusual Hygiene Confession Sparks Health Discussion
Former rugby league great turned radio commentator Bryan Fletcher has made a startling personal confession during a live broadcast, revealing himself to be what he termed a "mort dabber" in a segment discussing male hygiene practices.
The Radio Revelation
The veteran of 170 NRL games, who played for the Roosters and represented Australia as a Kangaroo, made the admission during his Joel & Fletch program on SEN radio last week. The discussion began when Fletcher referenced a listener's message about medical advice suggesting men should use toilet paper after urination to reduce irritation, odour, bacterial risks, and discomfort from residual moisture.
"Well, I tell you what I do. I use my shirt, I'm a dabber. Yeah, I dab," Fletcher declared to laughter from his co-hosts. "I use the dab on the side, I pull my T-shirt over from the side, then when it goes back, it could just be that I've just washed my hands. I'm not doing it at the front!"
Understanding the Slang and Technique
Fletcher employed old Australian rhyming slang during the segment, using the term "mort" to refer to his penis - derived from "Mort's dock." He elaborated on his technique, explaining he had read about a method involving using fingers to remove excess urine.
"If you can imagine the top of your mort, you're pushing it with your finger. It's like getting all the water out of a tap," Fletcher described. "So I'll use the side of my shirt ... because I'm a mad dribbler."
The Viral Hygiene Debate
Fletcher's confession comes amid a wider viral discussion about male hygiene practices that gained momentum earlier this year. In one particularly popular Instagram clip viewed more than 3.3 million times, men's lifestyle creator Chris Petrone urged followers to "dab the tip after weeing" after reacting to videos of surprised women discovering many men don't wipe.
According to polling data from the United Kingdom, more than one third of men admit they never wipe after urinating. Medical professionals emphasize this practice carries significant health implications beyond mere hygiene concerns.
Medical Perspectives on Male Hygiene
Professor Christopher Bunker, a consultant dermatologist specializing in male genital dermatology, provides clear guidance: "The best advice for men when urinating is to pass urine with the foreskin fully retracted, empty the bladder, then gently squeeze the penis a few times to expel any remaining urine. After that, dry the area with dry toilet tissue – not wet wipes."
Professor Bunker warns that wet wipes contain chemicals that can trigger allergic reactions on sensitive skin. He emphasizes the serious consequences of improper hygiene: "We now have strong evidence that retained urine on the penis is a cause of lichen sclerosus, thrush, dysuria, tightening of the foreskin, and even penile cancer."
Health Risks of Inadequate Hygiene
Men's health specialists explain that residual urine creates a warm, damp environment under the foreskin that allows bacteria and yeast to flourish. One of the most common resulting conditions is balanitis – inflammation of the penis head – which affects between three and eleven percent of men and occurs more frequently in uncircumcised individuals.
Dr. Jeff Foster, a general practitioner specializing in men's health, clarifies the mechanism: "Failure to expel the last part of your urine can result in a small build-up under the foreskin, leading to balanitis, which is effectively an infection."
The discussion Fletcher initiated highlights an important but often overlooked aspect of men's health, combining personal confession with medical expertise to address a topic that affects millions worldwide.
