Peter V’landys calls for tougher penalties as NRL pitch invader jailed

Peter V’landys will meet urgently with the government to call for tougher penalties for pitch invaders following a spate of “dangerous” incidents.

Rugby league bosses Peter V’landys and Andrew Abdo are calling on the NSW Government to bring in tougher penalties to tackle pitch invaders after two matches were interrupted over the weekend.

His call for a mandated deterrent came as a pitch invader who ran onto the pitch with an orange flare during the game between the Sharks and Tigers was jailed for three months and fined $440.

That pitch invasion followed a woman’s topless run across the Cbus stadium during the Eels victory of the Titans and led Mr V’landys to call for the NSW Government to impose a tough deterrent.

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“We will be taking this up with the government urgently,” Mr V’landys said. “Having flares is dangerous not only for themselves but more importantly it is dangerous for the players.

Joe Ofahengaue grabs a pitch invader who ran on the field with a flare (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

“We don’t want players’ health and safety put at risk. Players playing an innocent game of rugby league should not be put in danger, they need to be safe in their workplace.”

He did not call for jail terms directly but said: “It is up to the government to find a deterrent that works. Fines alone are not a deterrent because we are advised that these people don’t pay them anyway.”

Mr V’landys called on the government to act as the election campaign got underway because the protests were politically motivated.

“We are not against people protesting peacefully but don’t do it when you are endangering peoples’ lives,” he said.

“The protests were political,” Mr V’landys said. “This run up to the election is going to be concerning for us.”

Mr V’landys jokingly added that rugby league had its own deterrents with big props already on the pitch. “Maybe we should get Junior Paulo or Nelson Asofa-Solomona to tackle them. That would be enough to stop me running onto the pitch,” he said.

A pitch invader during the Tigers v Sharks game (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

Pitch invader Andrew George, 32, of Russell Lea, pleaded guilty in Sutherland Local to entering enclosed land without lawful excuse and possessing a bright light distress signal in a public place.

He appeared without a lawyer via AVL video from custody, wearing a red shirt with the words “Fireproof Australia,” a climate activist group known for blocking major roads and obstructing traffic across Sydney.

The climate protestor told police he was mining magnate Gina Rinehart and said he carried a flare because it was an emergency signal and “we are in an emergency.”

Magistrate Phillip Stewart said he was likely to reoffend again. “There needs to be a strong message sent to the community and to the offender. No penalty other than prison is appropriate. He’s not remorseful at all, rather his actions are deliberate and calculated.”

“To get that close to players…who knows what his intentions were.”

NRL players are fuming after host of pitch invasions over the weekend.

FULL STORY: https://t.co/fqlBIO3X9ypic.twitter.com/ybEwLs9Ubs

— Telegraph Sport (@telegraph_sport) April 10, 2022

Cronulla chief executive Dino Mezzatesta spent Monday locked in talks with police and security. He acknowledged the club would need to look at increasing their security presence at their next home game.

“If people are going to use games as a platform to make their statements, we will need to review it and make sure that players, officials and fans are as safe as possible,” Mezzatesta said.

“If we need to have more of a presence, we will do it.”

NRL’s streaker crisis deepens with mass invasions

— Adam Lucius

Wests Tigers co-captain James Tamou was relieved players were not hurt after four pitch invaders marred Cronulla’s comfortable 30-4 win at a packed PointsBet Stadium on Sunday.

With the Sharks leading 20-0 midway through the second half, a man ran from the eastern grandstand carrying what appeared to be a protest banner before letting off an orange flare.

He was crash tackled to the ground by security staff as the flare was put out by a fire extinguisher, leaving behind a plume of orange smoke.

There were unconfirmed reports the protestor was from Fireproof Australia, the activist group which has been holding sit-ins in Sydney’s peak hour traffic.

For the second straight game, a pitch invader made it onto the field in an NRL match. Picture: Fox League

The flare is extinguished. Picture: Fox League

As he was being carried off the field and into the hands of police, three other spectators unrelated to the protest ran from the northern end of the ground toward the players.

One up-ended a security guard before being apprehended, while the other two were escorted off.

The worrying incident will again bring security at rugby league games into question after a shirt-less woman made her way onto Cbus Super Stadium during the Gold Coast-Parramatta clash on Saturday.

“To get that close to players…who knows what his intentions were,” Tigers co-captain James Tamou said.

“Luckily nothing happened, but having this situation will put a bit more urgency into (security for) upcoming games.”

Fair to say that the streaker at the Titans v Eels game got absolutely axed by that security guard 😳😳😳#streaker#NRLTitansEelspic.twitter.com/wu6O9zjgqV

— myNAMEisDVG (@myNAMEisDVG) April 9, 2022

The three-minute break in play allowed Cronulla to reset and go right on with the job, piling on a further two tries to ease away with the game.

The Tigers’ loss — their fifth in a row — heaps further pressure on coach Michael Maguire.

Cronulla halfback Nicho Hynes was again superb in the one-way rout, but he had plenty of friends.

Matt Moylan was one.

He is a desperate footballer fighting to save his career — and so far he is putting up an irresistible case to stay in the black, white and blue.

Finally free of the niggling injuries and self-doubt that put the handbrake on recent seasons, the born-again five-eighth is loving life as Hynes’ partner-in-crime in the Sharks halves.

The pair looked as though they have played together for five seasons, not five matches, as they bobbed on either side of the ruck to tease and torment the Tigers all day.

With a flare. The dope could be full of Covid. He could have a weapon. How the hell do they get out there?

— Phil Gould (@PhilGould15) April 10, 2022

This is actually ridiculous. Security is poor. It’s now been two nights in a row now. Unacceptable. #NRLSharksTigers

— Ashlee (@_itsashleeee_) April 10, 2022

Off-contract and playing for his footballing life, Moylan can expect a new deal if he can maintain his rich vein of form.

This wasn’t Cronulla at his crisp, efficient and ruthless best but it was more than enough to see off a Tigers side that looked several levels below where the Sharks are at.

The hosts led 14-0 at the break and you got the feeling if they could compose themselves and dial back the extravagance just a touch, the points would flow.

And they did in a much better second half performance.

Matt Moylan is born again (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

TIGERS’ PAW EFFORT

How long can it go on like this?

In a season of lows, Wests Tigers scored just one try in the dying seconds as they slumped to yet another defeat.

They have now lost a club record eight games in a row, stretching back to the 2021 season.

Coach Michael Maguire’s time must surely be running out.

“The worrying thing is I don’t think they’ve hit rock bottom yet,” Immortal Andrew Johns said.

“There is no connection whatsoever with each other.”

Brad Fittler added: “They’re embarrassed and confused. I’m sure they don’t know how to get out of it.”

The Tigers during another tough defeat (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

The Tigers lacked urgency in defence and attack, resembling black and gold witches’ hats as the Sharks ran slick but simple plays at them.

With his side needing something to spark them early in the second half, winger Ken Maumalo let a bouncing ball roll over the sideline instead of making some sort of play at it, gifting Cronulla a set of six.

The Tigers played like they expected to be beaten, with only the final scoreline to be determined.

Still, Maguire refuses to give up on the miracle turnaround that will save his job.

“We’ve just got to stay at it. The group wants to get to where the opposition is today,” he said.

Originally published as Peter V’landys calls for tougher penalties as NRL pitch invader jailed