Wild brawl rocks Newcastle rugby league
The Newcastle rugby league community has been rocked by wild scenes in a disgusting brawl (video above) in a local league game that saw two players sent off last weekend.
The brawl involved a host of players from Macquarie Scorpions and Cessnock reserve grade teams.
When the referee and touch judges finally restored order, two players again began throwing punches and once separated, the pair were sent off.
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But the drama didn’t end there. The Macquarie player allegedly took off his shirt, spat at and abused the Cessnock crowd and tried to kick in the back window of a car before being restrained.
He was then driven away from the field by an acquaintance.
Macquarie officials have told Cessnock he will never play for the club again.
“It was disgusting,” a Cessnock source told me. “The guy almost stomped on a child, there were old people around – we fear for our player’s safety as the two know each other.”
Former Knights star Marc Glanville, who now runs the local league, is aware of the incident.
“It’s not a good look for the game and hopefully we will get to the bottom of it at the judiciary on Wednesday night,” Glanville told Wide World of Sports.
“We will also issue a warning to both clubs that if there is any further drama, heavy sanctions will be imposed.”
Coach loses dressing room over COVID protocols
Which successful and formerly popular NRL coach has lost the dressing room?
It’s not the strugglers – Michael Maguire, Trent Barrett or Anthony Griffin – although they clearly have massive problems.
It’s a coach whose team is doing okay – so why are his players fuming?
They are upset because they are living with such strict COVID protocols whereas the coach is living the high life and has often seen strutting around town.
It has left a sour taste in many players’ mouths – and could come back to bite the coach.
Gould reveals backstory to Kikau signing
Bulldogs boss Phil Gould has revealed that the Panthers couldn’t even make star forward Viliame Kikau an offer to stay with the premiers for next season.
Gould also said that he only moved to sign Kikau when he learned that Penrith could not keep the barnstorming forward.
“Due to the salary cap and having to upgrade their good young players, the Panthers couldn’t make him an offer,” Gould told Wide World of Sports.
“They had signed Nathan Cleary, Jerome Luai, James Fisher-Harris, Issah Yeo, Stephen Crichton, Brian To’o, Dylan Edwards, Charlie Staines, Moses Leota and others to big deals.
“Kikau had offers from the Dragons and Cowboys. I didn’t want to poach Panther players but said if you’ve made the decision to leave, I will enter the negotiations.
“It all came about from there.”
Griffin call coming back to bite Dragons
Football clubs are renowned for making dumb decisions – but the Dally M Medal for 2022 can already go to the Dragons board.
After losing their last eight straight games in 2021, the Dragons extended Anthony Griffin until the end of 2023. Why? Did they think the Storm were about to sack Craig Bellamy and pinch Griffin?
Now 2022 has started the same abysmal way last season ended – the Bulldogs and Tigers have awful records as well of late – but not as bad as the Dragons’ one win from their last 13 games.
And some at the Dragons are already starting to think it might be time for a change of coach. Dumb, just dumb.
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