Image: The fight that broke out between players from Lalor Park Kookaburras and Berala Bears. Image: Andyo26/Twitter
By CHRISTINE LAI
Two teams have been stood down from an A-grade rugby league competition and one man has been charged following a brawl that broke out in Western Sydney.
The fight occurred 30 minutes after the Lalor Park Kookaburras had scored a win over the Berala Bears at the Terry Lamb Complex in Chester Hill on Sunday.
Videos of the brawl were uploaded to social media, and shows players from both teams fighting in the carpark of the sports ground. The brawl had been stopped once police arrived at the scene.
Following inquiries, police arrested a 21-year-old man in Merrylands who was taken to Merrylands Police Station and charged with “affray and behave [sic] in an offensive manner in/near public place/school”, as reported by NSW Police.
Detective Superintendent Adam Johnson told The Sydney Morning Herald that the twenty-one-year-old was assisting police with their investigation, and it was expected that they would make more arrests based on the incident.
“There’s been some sort of altercation after the game and some outrageous, I would describe, behaviour occurred in the carpark. I would imagine that there’ll be more people assisting us with our inquiries in custody soon. We’ve reached out to both of the junior clubs this morning, my expectation is that they will give us their full cooperation”, he said.
An NSW Rugby League (NSWRL) spokesperson said that they were aware an incident had occurred and were assisting police with the investigation. The spokesperson stated that the league had a “zero-tolerance” approach towards violence or abusive conduct towards players, officials and spectators.
A review will take place following the violent brawl, with the spokesperson adding that their internal investigation would “take into account any video footage”, as well as reports from eyewitnesses, referees and the ground manager on duty.
Unacceptable Behaviour
Superintendent Johnson confirmed that he had seen video footage of the brawl that had been uploaded to social media and described the incident as “outrageous” and “totally unacceptable”.
“Clearly people haven’t got their emotions in check and got issues with their anger… I think it’s a blight on the game”, he said.
Both teams have been stood down and both club organisers, Parramatta Eels and Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs have issued a public statement denouncing the incident.
“We ask that all junior league registered participants continue to act with respect and in the appropriate manner of sportsmanship towards their counterparts in competition. There is no place for violence in our game”, the statement read.
The twenty-one-year old was granted conditional bail to appear before Bankstown Local Court on Thursday 13 July.
Anyone with further information can call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000
