Six spectators receive multi-year bans for NRL NT semi-final brawl
A group of six Darwin rugby league spectators have been handed massive multi-year bans after brawling in the stands during a recent semi-final, with two more under investigation. Read what happened.
The NRL NT has cracked down heavily on a spectator violence.
The sport’s peak body has handed out massive multi-year bans to the six spectators spotted brawling during the men’s semi-final match played out between eventual grand-finalists the Darwin Brothers and Litchfield Bears last month.
The game had reached a thrilling conclusion in the last play of the match with the scores close, but as the siren went attention was instead pointed at the TRL Stadium grandstand.
Instead of celebrating the contest a group of spectators had engaged in a wild and ugly brawl with punches being thrown.
Other fans and security intervened calling them out and pulling the fray apart while the sporting body charged the six initially identified.
Their charges included assault or act with aggression to any person, and behave in a way which disturbs the enjoyment of a match or brings discredit to any club, league or the game.
The NRL NT held off the sentencing until after the finals series eventually banning each for periods between four and six years.
Two spectators were banned from attending any NRL NT sanctioned match day at any venue for four years.
Three others were banned for five years and a final spectator was banned for six years.
Each spectator also has a suspended sentence that would carry a full ban period to 10 years, so those with four year bans have a further six years suspended.
A further two spectators have since been identified for their involvement in the incident and have been charged with their hearing to take place next week.
NRL NT operations manager Sheron McDougall said the sporting body was disappointed the game had been brought into disrepute in such a manner.
“I hope this sends a message to anyone attending our games, this suspension means they can’t attend any NRL NT sanctioned game day,” she said.
“Most of them just took responsibility for it, everyone who attended their stories married up and with the amount of footage circulating there wasn’t much room not to.”
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Originally published as Six spectators receive multi-year bans for NRL NT semi-final brawl
