Warriors fan grabbed by Gordon Chan Kum Tong speaks out, urges NRL not to sanction Manly player

The Warriors fan that was grabbed by Manly hooker Gordon Chan Kum Tong in a sideline confrontation has spoken out for the first time, urging the NRL not to sanction the Sea Eagles player. Watch the video.

The Warriors fan grabbed by Gordon Chan Kum Tong in a sideline confrontation has spoken out for the first time, urging the NRL not sanction the Manly hooker.

The NRL is investigating the sideline incident that was captured on video, showing Chan Kum Tong grabbing the fan by the jersey before a second Warriors supporter intervenes to separate the two.

The Sea Eagles dummy-half was in the stands at Go Media Stadium in Auckland when he was seen confronting the Warriors fans, who were believed to be heckling Sea Eagles veteran Jake Trbojevic as he left the field after being sin binned in Friday night’s clash.

The man who intervened, believed to be the father of the fan who was grabbed by Chan Kum Tong, posted a video of his son on social media on Sunday, in which he denied that he had heckled or abused Trbojevic as he went up the tunnel.

WARNING: CONTAINS EXPLETIVE LANGUAGE

At one point in the video, a voice could be heard yelling: “Thank you Jurbo, Thank you Jurbo”, as Trbojevic left the field.

“Kiora, I’m the guy who was collared by the Manly player at the Friday night game,” he said in the video posted by his father Zane Wedding.

“… I have been going to NRL games since I was a little kid. I have sat in those seats for a decade now. I know the difference between sledging and banter.

Manly star Gordon Chan Kum Tong involved in sideline confrontation with a Warriors fan.

“When Jake Trbojevic was sin binned you can clearly see in the video that I was not disrespectful, did not swear or sledge him at all.”

The man said that while he believed Chan Kum Tong had done the wrong thing by ‘collaring’ him, he did not want to see the 23-year old sanctioned by the NRL.

“I want to say that I don’t believe he should face any major repercussions from this, as a result of this,” he said.

“I understand that at no point should he have collared me or tried to take my phone but I don’t think he should face any major repercussions like a suspension or at worse lose this job over it.”

The NRL confirmed it was investigating the incident on Saturday morning.

“The NRL is aware of the video shared on social media and is making inquiries,” an NRL spokesperson said.

Originally published as Warriors fan grabbed by Gordon Chan Kum Tong speaks out, urges NRL not to sanction Manly player