Rugby league greats Paul Gallen and Phil Gould both agree it’s time for unruly spectators to be hit with the maximum punishment after the NRL’s Magic Round was marred by violence in the Suncorp Stadium stands.
On Friday night, footage did the rounds on social media of two groups of fans coming to blows in the western stand at Suncorp Stadium, a brawl that involved Manly great Owen Cunningham.
Cunningham alleged his family was set upon by several people, with the brawl taking place when his son was unexpectedly “whacked in the back of the head” following comments made to him and his girlfriend.
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That incident alone saw three people evicted from the ground by police and slapped with fines for disorderly conduct.
“We all have a drink and we all want to use that as an excuse, but it’s not an excuse,” Gallen said on Nine’s 100% Footy.
“Is any of that behaviour criminal? If it’s criminal behaviour getting in fights in public which you can’t do, they should be charged criminally.
“For the instigators out there just causing trouble, ban them for life. They should be banned for life, everywhere in rugby league, banned for life.
“You go to the rugby league with your family and kids to watch the game and enjoy the footy, not to go and start talking rude to women and carrying on.
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“It’s just ridiculous. I know we are so tribal and so staunch about the team we follow, but to go to the footy and punch on over it, I think it’s ridiculous.”
In another incident, Wests Tigers’ Jackson Hastings required security mid-match to escort a fan out of the stadium after derogatory comments about the playmaker’s family were allegedly made.
Gould said the examples out of Magic Round were the biggest issues plaguing junior sport and the growth of rugby league in lower grades.
“It’s anti-social behaviour,” Gould said.
“Anti-social behaviour and sideline abuse is the biggest deterrent to junior sport in all sports, not just rugby league. It’s our biggest issue.
“Anti-social behaviour and the abuse on the sidelines in junior league fixtures, it turns people away. It turns kids off the game. It turns people away from going to support these kids.
“It’s not good for participation. It’s a massive issue and it’s one I’ve spoken to the government about on numerous occasions about programs to try and alleviate that… that behaviour at Suncorp Stadium was unacceptable.”
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