Are the Warriors "sensitive bros", "jock bros" or too often "sweet-as bros"?
The insinuation obviously is that some, or all of those traits, tend to strip them of mental fortitude the second they run on to the park.
I mean I hang out with several bros religiously every week, ploughing the fairways of Golflands and Hastings Golf Club where we discuss anything from what a drongo Donald Trump is to how soft Sonny Bill Williams must be if he can't fly economy class to preserve his thoroughbred body; or why the heck does Maria Sharapova still consult a GP in Russia when she lives a $33 million life of luxury in the United States.
It makes one wonder how some of the world's prominent sportspeople used to travel via ships for months to Europe last century and perform with aplomb on meagre allowances and the mental anguish of realising their farms were untended.
The other day I can safely assume I engaged in a bit of "bromance" with a group of middle-aged blokes at Golflands.
As my workmate and I started carving up the front nine, the greenkeeper shot past in his kart to ask if we could change the pin placements on every hole on the greens.
What a blast, we thought, as we watched social hackers ahead and behind us wonder if we were up to mischief.
When the group of five behind us caught up because of the traffic jam ahead, we took immense pleasure in enlightening them of our licence to dictate the nature of the course.
A grinning hacker quipped: "We don't mind as long you don't change the New Zealand flag."
I asked: "So could you tell if they were Kiwi or Aussie cricket fans waving flags on the embankment of the test match at the Basin Reserve?"
His smile of resignation needed no interpretation in the face of common sense prevailing, but then I digress.
It's no secret that a jandal-clad "cool dude" wearing his baseball cap backwards and displaying tattoos below his sleeve line has a fair way to go in mutating the conservative mould of a sportsman, especially in a melting pot part of the world.
The origin of "bro" for a good part was simply an abbreviation of "brother" to create a sense of belonging among the male species.
No doubt it provided a template for a modicum of chauvinism but, generally, a term of endearment has evolved into a social stereotype, although they'll be loath to admit it any more than petrol heads would to metamorphosing to bogans.
Let's face it. It's becoming harder to define a contemporary bro. The "unacceptable, soul-destroying" bro culture that Lowe purports to - and not just on the field - can easily be perceived as an ethnic disposition.
The former Kiwis and Queensland coach, who is reportedly now unofficially mentor to Blues rugby coach Tana Umaga, claimed it was a "cop out" to claim the Warriors came back in Saturday's 34-26 loss.
I agree. The first half was so appalling I switched channels.
But if the bro culture is to blame then what can we make of sluggish Super Rugby starts?
That must explain why the Hurricanes have had a win-less two rounds and the Blues' capitulated to the Crusaders in game two.
Let's go further and blame the Super Rugby organisers for the teams' woes.
I mean who came up with the masterplan of letting choreographer Parris Goebel's hip-gyrating, booty-shaking "soul sisters" into the changing rooms of Super Rugby players to bang-bang the way for the pre-season promotion.
Is that why Julian Savea and Cory Jane couldn't win up-and-under balls from fellow All Black Ben Smith's clutches?
In fact, the biggest demons have to be The Crowd Goes Wild team.
They are forever making players perform infantile acts in front of the camera so slap a ban on them, too.
To suggest players can't separate work from play is an insult to their intelligence.
The reality is contemporary sport is about the total package - entertainment-soliciting fans want characters, not robots in 80-minute on-field appearances.
Perhaps the mystery is in the coach's inability to bring out the best in his players although it's just the first round on the heels of an eight-match losing streak.
Auckland and Wellington have been and will remain "bro capitals" of New Zealand, never mind if Lowe says there's no racial connotations.
The challenges are similar to social media - how to tap into it but not let it dictate terms.
Warriors head honcho Jim Doyle says former part-owner Lowe talks about how no one from the club involves him or listens to his suggestions.
Does that mean Lowe actually is evolving from an "ass-kicking bro" to a "bitter-and-twisted bro"?
