NRL 2020: Players have been seen holding up gang signs as tribal war rages

High-profile NRL stars are unwittingly being used by Sydney’s street gangs to promote violence when they make rap symbols during interviews or after scoring tries.

NRL players are unwittingly being used by Sydney’s street gangs to promote violence when they make rap symbols during interviews or after scoring tries.

A tribal war is being fought in many parts of the inner and western suburbs with rap, or “drill”, music and its songs promoting violence.

A number of high-profile footballers including Josh Addo-Carr, Jack Wighton and Brian To’o have all been captured publicly mimicking certain gestures or photographed with rap bands with the images then often posted on social media without their knowledge.

Josh Addo-Carr allegedly threw out a 67 gang sign during a post match interview after the 2020 grand final.

Over the past few years a running war between Pacific Islander gangs has resulted in multiple stabbings, brawls and even deaths, with rap music glorifying or fuelling the tensions between the different groups.

Some of the players’ gestures, which are totally innocent, are being misinterpreted as endorsements of their groups.

When Addo-Carr made a symbol during an interview last year, a social media account for “drill” rapper Hooligan Hefs re-posted the vision with the caption “LETS FKN TROT !! congrats brother”.

“I was born in Doonside and that is just to remind myself where I came from and has nothing to do with being gangs,’’ Addo-Carr said.

“I’m proud of where I come from but want to make it clear that no one should get involved in gangs.”

NRL player Jack Wighton (right) with an unknown male on the left. Picture: Instagram

Hooligan Hefs is from the Mount Druitt area and his songs promote violence, gang culture and guns, with one song containing the lyric “still got the .45 ready to use”.

While it’s not suggested Hooligan Hefs is involved in gang activity, violence or criminality, police have warned venues of the dangers of having the act perform and have had some performances cancelled in recent years over concerns related to fans.

Canberra and NSW State of Origin star Wighton was photographed with Hooligan Hefs at the recent boxing match between former NRL player Paul Gallen and Mark Hunt at Bankwest Stadium.

But a number of sources said Wighton posed for photos all night with members of the crowd.

“He probably got photographed 200 times with all sorts of people, to him they would have just been a music band,’’ one source said.

The photo was then posted on social media without Wighton’s knowledge.

Addo-Carr in action for NSW in State of Origin. Picture: Chris Hyde/Getty Images

Likewise, the band OneFour used footage of Penrith rising star To’o doing a “shimmy” movement with his chest after scoring a try against South Sydney in last year’s semi-final.

A OneFour fan put the footage to music by the band notorious for gang violence in Sydney’s west without To’o, Penrith or his management knowing.

Criminal Groups Squad Commander Detective Acting Superintendent Jayne Doherty said police work closely with sports integrity bodies in relation to criminal associations and behaviours of their members.

“The NSW Police Force has long engaged with various sports integrity bodies to provide advice and guidance on behaviours that put athletes and their sports at risk of reputational damage,” Det Supt Doherty said.

“The display of hand symbols by high-profile people is by no means new, but it does raise our concerns. While it’s unlikely we’d see conflict on the field, this type of behaviour could easily cause issues among spectators.”

Penrith's Brian To'o also allegedly threw up a gang sign. Picture: Brett Costello

NRL boss Andrew Abdo said the league was in constant contact with police about who players are associating with.

“We make the risks of associating with certain groups clear to both our clubs and our players,’’ he said.

“We will continue to work closely with NSW Police and our clubs to ensure our players understand the potential ramifications of certain actions.

“Our players are role models, particularly to young people in the community, and we take our role to educate our players of that responsibility very seriously.”

Police sources have told the Telegraph that after a period of relative calm between the rival gangs there have been a number of incidents increasing tensions.

On Christmas Eve, police said gang rivalry was the motive for a violent home invasion at Castle Hill in Sydney’s northwest.