State of Origin overshadowed by minute’s silence disgrace

UPDATE: PREMIER Daniel Andrews has slammed fans’ disgraceful behaviour during a minute’s silence to honour the late Ron Clarke at the MCG last night.

State Of Origin II - NSW v QLD

PREMIER Daniel Andrews has slammed fans’ disgraceful behaviour during a minute’s silence to honour the late Ron Clarke at the MCG last night.

State of Origin II got off to the most unsavoury of starts as jeers and shouts of “Queenslander” and “Gallen’s a w***er” were heard throughout the 60 seconds.

Clarke, one of Australia’s greatest distance runners and the man who lit the cauldron at the Melbourne Olympics in 1956, died Wednesday at the age of 78.

Mr Andrews said it was “appalling”.

“I think it’s important that we call this out for the disrespectful, appalling behaviour that it was,” Mr Andrews told Channel 9.

But he said it was only a small group of fans who “did the wrong thing”.

“The vast, vast majority ... understand exactly what we’ve lost with the passing of Ron Clarke,” Mr Andrews said.

The crowd stands for a minute’s silence for Australian athletics legend Ron Clarke. Picture: Getty

Sports Minister John Eren called the badly-behaved fans “buffoons”.

“It’s appalling, it only takes a couple of buffoons to ruin the night and there was such a special moment for such an honourable man, Ron Clarke,” he said.

“We were just having a moment silence and of course there was a couple of buffoons who ruin it for the rest, but nevertheless it was a great tribute to a great man.”

People at the game also took to social media to vent their disappointment.

Video of the minute’s silence disgrace in player above

The minute silence at the start of the Origin was disgraceful from the crowd. #Origin #StateofOrigin #showsomeclass

— Matty (@matty_0101) June 17, 2015

To those who made noise during that minute's silence, pull your heads in! #origin

— Rugby League Week (@LeagueWeek) June 17, 2015

Thanks to rugby league Bogans for ruining the moments silence for the legendary #RonClarke #Origin

— Fraser Nixon (@FraserNixon) June 17, 2015

Yelling out during a moment of silence for someone who has died is reprehensibly disgraceful behaviour. #origin

— Chris Urquhart (@chrisurquhart) June 17, 2015

Absolutely disgraceful that certain yobbos are yelling out during the minute silence for Ron Clark. #Origin #Origin2

— Brent Costelloe (@brentcostelloe) June 17, 2015

That was disgusting. Muppets yelling during that moment's silence should be evicted. #Origin

— John Dean (@JohnDean_) June 17, 2015

Mugs @MCG who tarnished Ron Clarke minute's silence should be utterly ashamed of themselves.

— Chris Warren (@ChrisWarreNRL) June 17, 2015

Gold Coast City Council, where Clarke was a former mayor, confirmed Clarke’s death from kidney failure yesterday after previously battling heart disease.

Clarke set 17 world records, including 12 during a 44-day tour of Europe in 1965, nine years after he had been invited as a 19-year-old to light the Olympic flame at the Melbourne Games.

“I revelled in the feeling that running gave me,” Clarke said after he retired.

“It was a fantastic feeling, an alive feeling.”

He competed at the 1964 Tokyo and 1968 Mexico City Olympics, but his only medal was a bronze in the 10,000 metres in 1964.

At Mexico City, Clarke collapsed at the finish line and came close to dying from altitude sickness during the 10,000 metres. He finished in sixth place, but later said he could not recall anything about the final stretches of the race. He later competed in the 5,000 at the same Games.

Ron Clarke lights the Olympic torch at the Melbourne Games.

Clarke’s world records came over a variety of distances, including the 5,000 four times and the 10,000 twice. But he also set world marks twice in the 2 mile, four times in the 3 mile, twice over 6 miles, once each over 10 miles and 20 kilometres and once in a 1-hour race in 1965, where he completed 20.232 kilometres (12.5 miles).

Clarke was mayor of the Gold Coast from 2004 to 2012, where one of his last official duties was to help secure the 2018 Commonwealth Games for the beachside city. He was honoured with the Order of Australia and as a Member of the British Empire.

Despite maintaining a strong fitness regimen throughout his life, Clarke was not as mobile after an accident sustained since his retirement from public life in 2012. He was injured during his regular walk about a year ago.

He is survived by his wife, Helen, two sons and grandchildren. His daughter, Monique, died in 2009.

— with wire agencies

Originally published as State of Origin overshadowed by minute’s silence disgrace