Life bans may be issued to those involved in sideline fight at under-11 Brisbane rugby league match

The QRL is investigating a wild sideline brawl at an under-11s match between Redcliffe and Norths Devils with those found to be involved set to face harsh sanctions.

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NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo has put rugby league thugs on notice as the Queensland Rugby League warned they are considering imposing life bans following a “disgraceful” junior football brawl in Brisbane.

The QRL has launched an investigation into allegations a Redcliffe Dolphins coach came to blows with a touch judge at an under-11s fixture against Norths Devils last Sunday week.

The two clubs in question were stood down for one match over the punch-up debacle and are slated to return to the field this Sunday.

NRL boss Abdo was concerned by the incident and said the governing body had given their full backing to the QRL, which has previously issued life bans to parents and spectators embroiled in junior league brawls.

A brawl at a Norths Devils v Redcliffe Dolphins junior rugby league match.

“Any form of violence in our game is always unacceptable,” Abdo told News Corp.

“The Queensland Rugby League will look into this and take appropriate action.”

QRL chairman Bruce Hatcher slammed the alleged actions of the Redcliffe Dolphins coach, who risks being rubbed out of the sport for allegedly attacking a match official.

“Life bans are an option, absolutely,” Hatcher said.

“In the past, we had an incident at Ipswich and we issued a life ban, but in this case, if any misconduct is proven, the privilege of playing or being involved in the game should be taken away from them.

“For this stuff to be happening is simply disgraceful and as an organisation, the Queensland Rugby League has a zero-tolerance attitude on any form of violence in rugby league at any level, particularly towards match officials.

QRL Chairman Bruce Hatcher says life bans are on the table. Picture QRL/Jorja Brinums

“If it’s a coach that has behaved in this manner, it’s simply unacceptable.

“Coaches in our game should be role models and if this (Dolphins) coach has been involved in any form of violence, I dare say he is not fit to be involved in our game in that capacity.”

A parent of one of the players, who wishes to remain anonymous, said the tension between the Redcliffe Dolphins coach and the North Devils touch judge was “building” throughout the game.

“I was bringing back the tee when I look to my left and see the coach and the touch judge going blow for blow, they were just having a real punch-up,” he said.

“Once it started going everyone was getting involved and I just remembered thinking ‘what is going on?’.

“My 11-year-old son was watching it and it first he said to me that the touch judge deserved it, like kids, do but come the Monday he was a bit rattled and shaken up.

“As a coach you learn to block out the noise, it’s just a disgusting act. So unacceptable.”

NEL CEO Andrew Abdo has given the QRL full backing to punish those involved in the brawl. Picture: Getty Images

The men involved in the incident can be heard screaming profanities at each other while bystanders attempt to pull them apart.

Hatcher confirmed a QRL probe is underway, but insists the incident is not reflective of the sport as a whole.

Participation figures in Queensland are up across the board, with more than 64,000 players signing up last year in the Sunshine State, headlined by a 20 per cent increase in women playing rugby league.

“We are in the process of gathering more information,” Hatcher said.

“I’ve always been of the opinion that you respect the game, play hard and when it’s all over, you shake hands in the spirit of the game.

“We’ll seek footage of the event and speak to the clubs involved and their officials.

“I would hope the clubs themselves would take appropriate action.

“As a club, Redcliffe have always been very responsible and they have a long history in the game.

“It’s disappointing because as a whole, we have had a major increase in participation rates. One incident like this shouldn’t detract from the many good people in our sport who are doing the right thing.”

Originally published as Life bans may be issued to those involved in sideline fight at under-11 Brisbane rugby league match