NRL great turned commentator Bryan Fletcher has confessed to being a ‘mort dabber’ in a bizarre segment on his live radio show.
The former Roosters and Kangaroos star was discussing the health benefits of men wiping their genitalia after urinating when he owned up to ‘dabbing’ away excess moisture with his T-shirt when he uses the toilet.
Fletcher used the slang term ‘mort’ to describe his penis, which is old Australian rhyming slang for ‘Mort’s dock’.
‘Doctors say men should use toilet paper after weeing,’ Fletcher began on his Joel & Fletch radio show on SEN last week, quoting a message sent in by a listener.
‘Medical experts say using toilet paper after urination may help reduce irritation, odour and certain bacterial risks.
‘Even minor residual moisture can contribute to discomfort over time, especially in warmer conditions.’
NRL great Bryan Fletcher is pictured admitting to being a ‘mort dabber’ during a segment on his radio program
Fletcher (pictured right with fellow footy great Nathan Hindmarsh) confessed that he uses his T-shirt to dab away excess urine when he goes to the toilet
He then launched into a personal anecdote explaining how he takes care of his downstairs hygiene.
‘Well, I tell you what I do. I use my shirt, I’m a dabber. Yeah, I dab,’ Fletcher said 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!’
The veteran of 170 NRL games then explained that he’d read about a technique for removing excess urine that involves using your fingers to wring it out.
‘If you can imagine the top of your mort [penis], you’re pushing it [with your finger]. It’s like getting all the water out of a tap,’ he explained.
‘So I’ll use the side of my shirt … because I’m a mad dribbler.’
The question of whether men should wipe after urinating went viral in a series of online videos earlier this year.
Medical experts have warned that failing to wipe away excess urine can increase the risk of contracting an infection (stock image)
‘Fletch’ (pictured playing for the Roosters in 2001) used the rhyming slang term ‘mort’ to refer to his penis
In one clip, viewed more than 3.3 million times on Instagram, men’s lifestyle creator Chris Petrone urged followers to ‘dab the tip after weeing’ after reacting to videos of shocked women who had ‘just found out men don’t wipe’.
More than a third of men admit they never wipe after urinating, according to polling in the UK.
As well as being unhygienic and causing odour, doctors say skipping the step can increase the risk of infections.
Professor Christopher Bunker, a consultant dermatologist specialising in male genital dermatology, said: ‘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. Wet wipes contain chemicals that many men can become allergic to, particularly on such sensitive skin.’
Experts say failing to do this can lead to a range of problems.
‘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,’ said Professor Christopher Bunker, who is a consultant dermatologist specialising in male genital dermatology.
Men’s health specialists warn that residual urine can create a warm, damp environment under the foreskin, allowing bacteria and yeast to thrive.
One of the most common conditions linked to this is balanitis – inflammation of the head of the penis – which affects an estimated three to 11 per cent of men and is more common in those who are uncircumcised.
Dr Jeff Foster, a GP specialising in men’s health, said: ‘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.’
