Junior footy fights: Ikin vows violence crackdown across Qld junior codes

New Queensland Rugby League boss Ben Ikin has vowed a crackdown on violence at junior footy games after a spate of ugly incidents, and has teamed up with other sporting codes and the State Government to tackle the scourge head-on.

• Videos: Qld’s wildest and craziest footy brawls

New Queensland Rugby League boss Ben Ikin has vowed a crackdown on violence at junior footy games after a spate of ugly incidents, and has teamed up with other sporting codes and the State Government to tackle the scourge head-on.

Ikin, a former Maroons great, took over as QRL chief executive last month after leaving his role as head of football with the Brisbane Broncos.

Talking exclusively with the Sunday Mail, he revealed he had met with Sports Minister Stirling Hinchliffe in his first weeks in the job to discuss solutions to sideline violence.

The meeting came after a series of shocking incidents at junior league games, including one in April when a touch judge and coach came to blows at an U11s game between the Redcliffe Dolphins and North Devils.

Ikin said the brawl, which was witnessed by shocked spectators including children, was still under investigation but QRL chairman Bruce Hatcher has warned of potential life bans for those involved.

New Queensland Rugby League boss Ben Ikin. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)

Mr Hinchliffe said he had asked his department to bring together a “round table” of sporting organisations to discuss the issue and come up with solutions.

Ikin said “totally unacceptable” violence in junior sport appeared to be on the increase as ambitious parents pushed their children into big-money professional sport, and he was determined to stamp it out.

He said it was important people felt safe to volunteer for junior sport – a crucial service.

“My sense is that these things (violent incidents) have always happened,” he said.

“I can probably say that they’re happening more and part of the reason is that with all the money in professional sport now, ambition can sometimes filter its way down through the grades.

“Some parents are legitimately invested in their son or daughter’s future NRL career.

“The sporting experience for the kids means a lot to them and in an environment where there’s a lot of emotion, sometimes that emotion can spill over.”

Screenshots of a brawl during at a division 1 Under 13s rugby league football match between Logan Brothers who were playing Wynnum Manly at Kitchener Park in May 2021.

Ikin said the problem was not unique to rugby league and he had heard “horror stories” from other sports including water polo, soccer and basketball.

“The government is bringing all the sports together to try and develop solutions,” he said.

“How it evolves will soon play out in the coming months.

“I had had a meeting with the Sports Minister and we were speaking about this being a whole-of-sport issue. The government has moved really quickly to reach out and get the sports together.

“Just because it exists across multiple codes doesn’t mean we should just accept it. The approach is get together, pull it apart and work out how we can make it a better environment for our kids. Our volunteers need to feel safe as well.

“Without match officials and ground co-ordinators, kids won’t be able to play.”

Mr Hinchliffe said no one wanted to see bad sideline behaviour become a disincentive to Queenslanders putting their hands up to volunteer at junior and community sporting clubs.

“This is a nationwide challenge, but the roundtable will be an opportunity to work together on tailor-made Queensland ideas for getting more volunteers involved in community sport,” he said.

Mr Hinchliffe said the government was actively supporting Queensland clubs with resources developed by the national Play By The Rules program and has recently delivered four online workshops to increase awareness and establish proper procedures for complaints handling.

“I’m eager to see the roundtable discussion in coming weeks with Queensland sport become the starting point for a community-wide conversation about additional strategies to keep junior sport safe and inclusive,” he said.

Ikin said the QRL had also introduced a code of conduct, with penalties including life bans and hefty fines for and off-field breaches.