Saint, Sinner, Shoosh: Allianz brawlers banned, Anthony Albanese’s SOS email to save Leichhardt Oval

The ban has been revealed for the fans caught brawling on camera at the Roosters vs. Rabbitohs match, while PM Anthony Albanese weighs in on the Leichhardt Oval debate in Saint, Sinner, Shoosh.

Four of the idiots involved in the fight after the Roosters-Rabbitohs clash have been identified and banned from Allianz Stadium for two years.

A 22-year-old man was arrested outside the stadium last Friday night and charged with affray after police checked CCTV.

He was banned from the stadium for two years and will appear in the Downing Centre Local Court in May.

Further investigations during the week uncovered the identity of three other brawlers, all of whom were recognised on social media videos and by members, who assisted stadium security staff.

The three have also been banned for two years and will be dealt with by police.

The investigation is ongoing.

The security benefits of having a new $900m stadium for the big games are the cutting-edge security cameras that can pick up incidents.

An ugly brawl erupted in the members area of Allianz Stadium during the Round 3 NRL match between the Sydney Roosters and South Sydney Rabbitohs.

NRL independent commission boss Peter V’landys has spoken out about the violence.

“The enjoyment and safety of fans at the venues is paramount to us,” V’landys said. “Bad behaviour will never be tolerated.

“The ones who don’t want to do the right thing and spoil it for everyone else are not welcome.”

ALBO’S SOS EMAIL TO SAVE LEICHHARDT

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has declared “We must save Leichhardt Oval” in an email to this column on the future of the venue.

“Leichhardt Oval is a much-loved community asset which must be saved,” Albo said before heading off on Good Friday to watch his Rabbitohs beat the Bulldogs.

“Nothing beats sitting on the hill at suburban grounds like Leichhardt Oval, Henson Park or Belmore Oval. The atmosphere at Leichhardt Oval on a winter’s afternoon is hard to beat.

“It is great for NRL games but also other codes including junior footy.”

The PM didn’t say if he’d be prepared to commit federal funding for the run-down ground, alongside any state government and local council contributions.

It’s interesting, however, that we’ve found an old interview from 15 years ago when he was then Minister for infrastructure in 2009 in the Rudd government.

He had committed $3m back then to upgrade Leichhardt Oval, which is in his local seat of Grayndler.

“It is a national icon of rugby league,” Albo said at the time.

Anthony Albanese has joined the movement to save Leichhardt Oval.

This week he added: “I played rugby league at Leichhardt Oval as a kid.

“It’s used by football, soccer, it’s used by a range of sports, it’s used by schools. It’s a great asset for the people of NSW.”

ANYONE SEEN BARRY?

Wests Tigers chairman Barry O’Farrell appears to have gone missing.

We’ve heard absolutely nothing from the ex-NSW premier on the future of Leichhardt Oval.

Not a word.

Instead it has been left to interim CEO Shane Richardson, who is obviously out of touch with the fans and doesn’t understand the tradition and tribalism.

We have phoned and texted O’Farrell several times in the last week with no response.

Management changes at the Tigers were implemented to improve governance.

There is no sign of this happening.

SAINT

Ian Heads. OAM. NRL Hall of Famer. Will forever be remembered for his magnificent contribution to rugby league over 60 years as the game’s most respected journalist and author.

SINNER

No wonder the Socceroos have an identity crisis when compared with the Matildas. Most of the players could walk down George St and not be recognised. They are treated so shabbily by Channel 10 which chose to relegate their prime-time World Cup qualifier against Lebanon on Tuesday night to 10 Bold. Football Australia should be demanding an explanation.

Roosters bound? Broncos star Selwyn Cobbo could be squeezed out by the salary cap. Picture: NRL Photos

SHOOSH

Something has to give in the Brisbane salary cap now they are paying superstar Reece Walsh $6m over five years. They also have Payne Haas on over $1m and Patrick Carrigan, Ezra Mam and Kotoni Staggs on huge dollars. My tip? Selwyn Cobbo will be at the Sydney Roosters in 2026.

SHOOSH I

There is a rumour doing the rounds that a captain at a struggling NRL club threw $10,000 on the bar for a recent bonding session to lift the spirits of his teammates. This could not possibly be true because the player is renowned to be as tight as they come with his dollars.

SHOOSH II

Which Parramatta Eels forward has been mentioned in a possible swap deal with St George-Illawarra for unhappy winger Zac Lomax.

Taylan May had two feet off the ground when he collided with Reece Walsh. Credit: Supplied.

SHOOSH III

The NRL will look at possible personnel changes on the match review committee in light of the Reece Walsh – Taylan May incident and other actions of careless/reckless play that have escaped proper action.

SPOTTED IV

Former Wests Tigers CEO Justin Pascoe at his favourite eatery Tottis in Rozelle on Thursday with some interesting corporate types. Turns out the eight at Pascoe’s table were all current or former Tigers sponsors, and from all reports weren’t speaking all that positively of the new administration at the club.

SPOTTED I

Ex-NRL referee Gavin Badger at the Tim Tszyu v Sebastian Fundora press conference. Badger is clearly a boxing tragic – he has a Muhammad Ali tattoo on his calf.

Liam Knight sporting bleached hair against the Titans last week. Picture: Brendon Thorne/Getty Images

PUNISHMENT FOR WHITE KNIGHT

The Bulldogs have introduced more appropriate ways to punish players for training infringements.

You’ll remember the outrage last year when a young forward was forced to wrestle all his teammates for turning up slightly late.

Now there appears to be a change of attitude.

Last week prop Liam Knight ran on to Belmore Sports Ground against the Titans with the worst crop of bleached hair.

It was no fashion statement but a ‘punishment’ for a training indiscretion.

Former Daily and Sunday Telegraph sports journalist Ian Heads at his induction into the Rugby League Hall of Fame. Picture: Grant Trouville / NRL Imagery

TRIBUTES POUR FOR HEADS

The tributes keep rolling in for the late, great Ian Heads, whose reach spread far beyond rugby league.

Test cricket captains, Socceroos legends, Wallabies, league Immortals and Kangaroos, Olympians, politicians, administrators, broadcasters, newsreaders, journalists and prominent Australians from many industries and interests have expressed their sadness at the loss of one of sport’s greatest chroniclers.

His son Phil tells us he has received nearly 400 personal messages, calls and letters.

“And they’re still coming in,” he said.

Australian Test captains Mark Taylor and Ian Chappell were among the messages, as were many of the subjects of Heads Sr’s books, including Louise Sauvage, Brad Fittler, Benny Elias, Mal Meninga, the Beetson family, as well as former ARL chairman Ken Arthurson, Socceroos Mark Bosnich and Robbie Slater, politicians Stuart Ayres, Mark Arbib and Steve Kamper, media figures from the past seven decades and even legendary French rugby league player and administrator Louis Bonnery.

Your columnist has also received a tribute message from Geoff Prenter, another great old journo from Heads’ days.

It was Prenter, the original editor of ‘The Bible’ Rugby League week, who convinced Heads to take over the magazine when he left.

Prenter confirmed it was Heads and Sydney Morning Herald rugby league writer Tom Goodman who first came up with the concept back in 1981 of launching the Immortals in the magazine.

Heads will be farewelled at a private ceremony next month, followed by a memorial service at the SCG — the arena where he fell in love with rugby league when at the first match he watched in 1950 — one of the Kangaroos’ most famous Ashes wins.