Buzz: ARLC supremo Peter V’landys’ right to hit junior league brawlers with heavy penalties

Junior rugby league games have been hit with the most appalling behaviour imaginable - and calls for lifetime bans are overdue, writes PHIL ROTHFIELD.

The NRL spends $40 million a year on junior participation.

It’s to fight a war with soccer, AFL, cricket, rugby union, netball, basketball, golf, tennis and every other sport to convince parents and their youngsters to sign up and become part of the NRL family.

To become attached to the game for life.

To go to NRL games, to watch on TV, to buy memberships and merchandise.

Rugby league is a tough sell in the junior ranks because it is viewed by many parents as dangerous (although I disagree) because of the big hits and body contact.

Australian Rugby League Commission Chairman Peter Vlandys has called for heavy bans for junior brawlers. Picture: NRL Photos

Parents see other sports as safer options and less injuries, especially with concussion so much under the spotlight.

Now the game has a new deterrent – the sometimes disgusting behaviour of sideline parents.

A woman allegedly attacking another parent with a baseball bat.

A stabbing last year in the carpark after a game. Referee abuse.

The most appalling behaviour imaginable.

This is why Peter V’landys is today threatening the harshest of penalties and even life bans for the thugs who have turned junior league into a terrifying battleground.

‘Bad behaviour destroys our most valuable asset which is participation and the future of our game,’’ he said.

“It will not be tolerated. We can’t have parents or players coming to games scared that they might be subjected to violence or abuse.’

This stance is long overdue.

V’LANDYS’ HUGE CALL ON JUNIOR LEAGUE BRAWLERS

By Phil Rothfield, Paul Crawley and Dylan Arvela

NRL boss Peter V’landys wants junior sport sideline thugs banned from venues for life.

V’landys’ call came as the NSWRL introduced extra security measures at games at the weekend to stop the violence that marred the start of the rugby league season.

V’landys says repeat offenders should be “warned off” like criminals on racetracks.

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Junior rep coaches, NRL club bosses and parents discussed what can be done to clean up the game at grassroots levels.

Parramatta’s coaching director of elite pathways Joey Grima conceded “people are sometimes scared”.

Rugby league legend Phil Gould also revealed he tried to tackle issues relating to alleged gang violence in the Penrith juniors “years ago”.

But Gould claims he did not receive enough financial help from the NRL or government “to help fund security”, but added in a tweet: “Experts need to handle this, not club volunteers”.

The player dugouts have been moved away from fans at Raiders junior rep games.

IMMEDIATE CHANGES

The lasting impact of the ugly opening round of the under-17s Harold Matthews Cup competition was in clear view at the weekend.

It included beefed up security at some grounds, while others were adopting new methods to separate players from spectators.

In Canberra, chief executive Don Furner led the charge after a disturbing flare up last week between Manly players and a group of Raiders’ supporters resulted in Manly’s assistant coach facing a monster 20-month ban for his alleged foul-mouthed abuse of an official, while three Manly players and a Canberra fan were also sanctioned.

But this week Furner made sure the players and fans were well and truly separated, on opposite sides of the ground.

That is now expected to become the new standard where possible, otherwise seating will be cordoned off near player dugouts.

Furner said last week “wannabe gangsters” were running wild at junior rep footy, and he makes no apologies for going public.

“I only say it because I care and it (violence) does drive people away,” Furner told News Corp.

Canberra Raiders CEO Don Furner has made big changes at junior games.

INNOCENT VICTIMS

For every thug who causes trouble, there are many, many more people who just want to do the right thing — and create opportunity for young people.

But they say the game is hurting.

“People are sometimes scared,” Grima said, “they want to stay in the sport, but it’s not always a safe game to play – not because of the contact, but the social standards. It affects the numbers playing the game.

“It is sad we have to go to these measures because of some mums and dads in order to keep our players safe.

“This comes from some clubs lacking proper compliance and procedures.

“It’s sad clubs have had to do this [increase security], but we are not at that level, we are very confident in our procedures, but it’s sad for the sport to get to that.”

Bulldogs SG Ball coach Mitch Lewis added: “We are all there to watch kids play junior footy. There’s enough pressure on them … there’s enough stress for these boys coming through as it is because they’re already in the public eye.

“As a community we need to make sure we are just there to watch the game of footy and support them, we don’t need to be creating drama.”

V’LANDYS’ PROMISE

NSWRL chief executive Dave Trodden, praised for his tough action last weekend, said it was important all stakeholders came together to find the solution to what is as much a social problem as an issue for one sport.

“What everybody needs to do, including us, is to access all of these issues in a calm and considered way with input from everybody,” Trodden said.

“There is no point acting unilaterally about something and not involving all of the relevant stakeholders.”

But while the NSWRL is responsible for junior league, V’landys says the NRL won’t hesitate to step in to protect the game’s $40 million investment in junior participation.

‘‘I will support the harshest of penalties, even life bans, for repeat offenders,’’ V’landys said.

“We’d have to look at the legal implications but it’s not going to be tolerated.

“Rugby league is escapism. It’s where you socialise, make lifelong friends, it’s about communities and becoming part of the family.

“Bad behaviour destroys all that. It’s destroying our most valuable asset which is participation and the future of our game. It gives people a relationship with the NRL.

“We can’t have parents or players coming to games scared that they might be subjected to violence or abuse. It’s a social activity that is supposed to bring happiness and warmth to a team sport.’’

Australian Rugby League Commission Chairman Peter V'landys (Photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images)

GOULD’S CLAIMS

Now football boss at Canterbury, Gould didn’t hold back after the revelations were exposed in News Corp relating to a huge brawl at Penrith Stadium where a women allegedly was seen wielding a baseball bat in front of horrified parents and children.

Gould later responded to a story claiming “organised gang violence (was) fast becoming a threat to rugby league”.

The Panthers’ former general manager of football tweeted: “Highlighted this issue years ago. We put CCTV at junior league grounds on Penrith JL and had a mobile security team on call Saturdays and Sundays at junior grounds. Experts need to handle this, not club volunteers. Neither Govt nor NRL were willing to help fund security.”

A Penrith spokesman suggested Gould was referring to issues in community rugby league, which the spokesman said the Panthers were not responsible for. He did concede the brawl last weekend was related to two warring families who crossed paths at the reigning NRL premiers’ home ground.

Former Panthers boss Phil Gould.

PARENTS’ PRAISE

News Corp spoke to several parents who witnessed the ugly brawl at Penrith last week, and it was as shocking as it was sad to hear their recollections.

But others explained why rugby league was a game worth saving.

Robert Jackson, whose daughter Chloe, aged 17, plays for North Sydney said: “I have got to say we always feel safe with the girls rugby league. It is played in a much better spirit. They run out together, after the game they have photos together. The spirit of girls rugby league is where it should be. They are 18, 19 year old girls playing sport and they should be making friendships and having the time of their lives.”

Tanya McNaughton, who has a son, Tyrese, and daughter, Kyanna, playing for Parramatta added: “We have no problems at any games, at all.

“I feel the parents are really good and supportive, and the club itself.

“They do so much for the kids. They have counsellors, they have people talking about their futures. It might not be in rugby league, they have got to have a plan B.

“It has been really good in that way.”