Fan cops 30-month ban after abusing referee, players at NRL NT game

An ugly outburst from the sidelines has earned a rugby league fan a years-long ban from the sport.

An A-grade rugby league clash in Darwin has been marred by a spectator hurling abuse at the referee and opposition players, earning them a years-long ban from the sport.

The Darwin Brothers supporter received a 30-month ban following the incident during the second half of a top-of-the-table match between the Litchfield Bears and Brothers at TRL Stadium on July 13.

The outburst came moments after the Brothers had brought the score to 20-18, with abusive comments of a personal nature directed at the referee visiting from Queensland, The NT News reports.

The comments were reportedly shouted from the hill behind the goalposts.

TRL Stadium in Darwin. Picture: Patch Clapp / NRL NT

The referee called time off at 61:39 on the clock, informing both captains of the abuse.

Security and match officials worked to calm the crowd before the game resumed several minutes later, with the Bears eventually edging out a 28-26 victory.

Darwin Brothers president John Adams told NT News his club did not condone such behaviour.

“Our club doesn’t condone any sort of abuse, verbal or otherwise, towards the officials,” Mr Adams said.

NRL NT general manager Tony Crowe also backed the referee’s decision to halt play.

“It was a close game between the top of the table sides, but we 100 per cent support the referee’s decision to pause the match,” Mr Crowe said.

“We’ve all come here to enjoy rugby league, not listen to some individual that thinks their opinion is above everyone else’s, particularly when it’s in a negative manner toward a match official.

“The NRL NT is currently working through the process, we’ve got a number of reports from the referee and ground managers and due process will follow.”

The spectator was banned for 12 months for abusing the referee, 12 months for abusing opposition players, and an additional six months for bringing the game into disrepute.

TRL Stadium as the Darwin Brothers beat the Palmerston Raiders in the 2024 NRL NT women's grand final. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

In a separate incident, a spectator in Katherine was banned for 12 months for using obscene or offensive language toward a junior referee and for conduct that discredits the game.

NRL NT operations manager Sheron McDougall condemned the behaviour.

“It’s a timely reminder to all clubs and participants that we need to be mindful this is a sport and we have a responsibility to abide by the code of conduct,” Mr McDougall said.

“We’re drawing a line in the sand, it won’t be tolerated, we hope these matters can be solved without a game being paused but the referee is well within their right to do so and we support that.

“This is happening across all sports and we have to be mindful, we do need these match officials to keep our game going.”

Originally published as Fan cops 30-month ban after abusing referee, players at NRL NT game