Rugby league rocked by claims of another act of violence as Manly junior investigated (Season long NSWRL SG Ball, Harold Mattews, Tarsha Gale Cup )

Spectators have claimed a Manly under-17s player was seen to “leap the fence and start throwing punches into the crowd”.

Rugby League has been rocked by allegations of yet another ugly act of violence at a junior rep footy match on the weekend, with a Manly under-17s player now under investigation amid claims that he jumped the fence and bashed a young Canberra supporter.

It’s also claimed in a report Canberra has lodged with the NSWRL that two other Manly Harold Matthews Cup players had to be physically restrained by teammates from joining in, while the victim and his girlfriend were later allegedly threatened by Manly players when leaving the ground at the Raiders’ Belconnen facility.

This follows further claims over the weekend relating to allegations that a large group of supporters, including a women witnesses claim was wielding a baseball bat, took part in a massive brawl behind the grandstand at Penrith Stadium on Saturday.

News Corp can reveal that on the same day allegations from spectators in Canberra claimed the Manly under 17s player was seen to “leap the fence and start throwing punches into the crowd”.

It’s claimed the player had taken exception to what was described as loud jeers from a group of girls and one male who were sitting behind the Manly bench after the Raiders scored an upset win.

Rugby League has been rocked by allegations of yet another ugly act of violence at a junior rep footy match.

The report include allegations the Manly player said words to the effect “if you don’t shut up bitch I’ll come over that fence”, to which one female took offence and allegedly slapped him in the head.

The report claims “the young man sitting with the girls appeared to cop the brunt of the assault”, while also revealing the alleged victim was a local high school student.

He was treated at the ground by a Canberra club doctor after the incident left him looking “visibly rocked”, with concerns he was displaying signs of concussion.

This comes just two weeks after Manly spectators were involved in another brawl during and SG Ball game at Erskineville Oval.

The NSWRL has launched a full investigation into the latest incidents, with a NSWRL staff member and a referees’ observer also compiling independent reports.

‘Baseball bat’: 40 in violent junior rugby league brawl

By Paul Crawley and Josh Hanrahan

Rugby League has suffered another massive black eye amid allegations of a wild brawl involving a large group of spectators that erupted at Penrith following a junior representative match on Saturday.

The incident allegedly occurred inside Penrith Stadium at the back of the grandstand following an under 17s Harold Matthews Cup match between the Panthers and Central Coast.

It was the first official weekend of the NSW junior representative competition.

Several witnesses have described the alleged incident as the most violent fight they have ever seen, with women and “even little kids” caught up in the thick of it.

SCROLL DOWN FOR A WRAP OF ROUND 1 AND WATCH REPLAYS ABOVE

It is alleged the altercation started with a verbal argument between two women but quickly escalated to an ugly all-in, with one witness estimating as many as 40 people were involved.

The witnesses all claim to have seen a woman pull out a baseball bat although they did not see her attack anyone with it.

One explained: “It was a silver baseball bat.”

“She came running around the back.

“We didn’t see her hit anyone but on the way out there was a girl with a welt on the side of her face.

“Whether she has copped a fist or the bat (he was unsure), but it sort of ran from her ear across to her lip.”

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The brawl is alleged to have taken place out the back of a grandstand at Penrith Stadium.

It is understood no Central Coast players or spectators were involved, however it’s claimed teenagers wearing Penrith’s club colours had to be pulled back.

“There was a lot of people there,” a man said.

“They weren’t all throwing punches but they were all in and around it.

“It was just huge.”

Asked to estimate how many people were throwing punches or actually involved in the fight, he said: “There would be at least a dozen.

“That included the people who were trying to restrain someone and got hit. At one stage there was a bloke on the side and he sort of stumbled and there was two blokes into him and there was a lot of screaming.”

Another mother called it “crazy”.

“Even little kids were amongst it,” she said.

“It was definitely a shock to us, we don’t usually see stuff like that.”

NSWRL chief executive Dave Trodden said the allegations would be fully investigated.

NSWRL CEO Dave Trodden.

“Penrith are preparing a report for us at the moment and we will receive those details (on Monday),” Trodden said.

“But if it appears from the details that it is a matter that is appropriate for police investigation we won’t hesitate to refer it to the police for them to investigate.”

In a statement, NSW Police said by the time they arrived at the scene all involved had either fled or would not cooperate.

“Police were notified of an incident however upon police attendance, it appeared all had left the location,” a spokeswoman said.

“There were no reports made to police whilst on scene or anyone that wished to cooperate with police.”

The incident comes just two weeks after an ugly fight erupted among Manly spectators at a junior representative SG Ball match at Erskineville Oval.

The NSWRL has issued breach notices to several people following that fight, with one unregistered former junior representative player facing a full-season ban.

The NSWRL and Penrith Panthers have been contacted for comment.

In a statement, NSW Police said by the time they arrived at the scene all involved had either fled or would not cooperate.

“Police were notified of an incident however upon police attendance, it appeared all had left the location,” a spokeswoman said.

“There were no reports made to police whilst on scene or anyone that wished to cooperate with police.”

Round 1 wrap: Tarsha Gale, SG Ball and Harold Matts Cup

—Daniel McGookin

The NSWRL’s junior competitions are underway after a jam-packed opening round.

WATCH REPLAY: HAROLD MATTS

WATCH REPLAY: TARSHA GALE

Zach Fittler attracted plenty of attention in the Roosters clash against the Eels in Harold Matthews Cup. Picture: Jeremy Ng

SG BALL CUP

Star siblings Latu and Samuela Fainu have combined to help Manly to a thrilling 20-18 upset of defending premiers Canberra in their SG Ball season-opener on Saturday.

Latu made headlines late last year when he signed a record-breaking four-year deal with the Sea Eagles that could potentially earn him more than $1 million in that time.

Latu, 16, was dangerous with each touch of the ball in the halves, while Samuela scored and set up the matchwinner in a closely fought contest.

Manly were trailing by two in the waning minutes before Samuela found winger Luke Tucker to upset a Raiders outfit who get their campaign off to a winning start.

Raiders duo Sam Chapman and Noah Martin, who scored two tries, enjoyed strong performances in a losing effort.

Illawarra, Canterbury, Penrith and Newcastle were also first-round winners.

Mathew Arthur was part of the Eels’ victory against the Roosters. Picture: Jeremy Ng

HAROLD MATTHEWS CUP

An unsuspecting emerged for Canberra, with front-rower Mathias Tomuli-Ah-Kuoi and his big hair crossing for three tries in their big 32-6 win over Manly.

Up against the defending undefeated champions, the Raiders showed no signs of fear on their way to an early three-try lead at Belconnen Oval.

The Sea Eagles got one back before halftime but Tomuli-ah-Kuoi almost single-handedly blew them out of the game with two tries in the second half, including a solo effort for his third.

Cronulla, Canterbury, Penrith, North Sydney and Western Suburbs also won their openers, as did Parramatta, who defeated the Sydney Roosters by eight at Mascot Oval.

The game featured the Zach Fittler, son of Roosters and Penrith legend Brad, as well as Matthew Arthur, the son of Eels NRL coach, Brad.

The Roosters scored a round-one win against the Eels in the Tarsha Gale Cup. Picture: Jeremy Ng

TARSHA GALE CUP

A second-half hat trick to Illawarra captain Salma Nour has proven to be the difference in a seesawing battle against Canberra.

Both teams traded two tries apiece in the opening 20 minutes before the Steelers centre Jordyn Preston nabbed her second to give the visitors a four-point halftime advantage.

Preston proved a menace on the right edge, where she also set up winger Lilli O’Dea in a seesawing second half.

But Nour stunned the home side with a 14-minute hat trick to claim a 36-22 victory.

Canterbury, the Sydney Roosters, and St George also took round-one honours.

Originally published as Rugby league rocked by claims of another act of violence as Manly junior investigated (Season long NSWRL SG Ball, Harold Mattews, Tarsha Gale Cup )