The New Zealand Warriors fan who was allegedly manhandled by a Manly player has pleaded with the NRL to not sanction the Sea Eagle.
The Warriors beat the Sea Eagles in a boilover in Auckland on Friday night, with emotion running wild in the crowd.
A video captured Manly Sea Eagles player Gordon Chan Kum Tong attempting to grab a New Zealand fan by the shirt on the sideline and also reaching for his phone.
A man, believed to be the father of the fan, intervened and pushed Kum Tong away.
The NRL is currently looking into the incident, which took place towards the end of the game as Manly player Jake Trbojevic was given a sin-bin and was making his way towards the tunnel.
Despite this, the fan involved in the altercation shared a video on social media asserting his innocence and urging the NRL not to take any disciplinary action against Kum Tong.
‘Kia Ora, I’m the guy who was collared by the Manly player on the Friday night game,’ he said.
‘The first thing I want to say is I don’t believe that he should face any major repercussions from this, as a result of this.
‘I understand that at no point should he have collared me or tried to take my phone, but I don’t think that he should face any major repercussions like a suspension or at worst, losing his job over it.
‘The second thing I want to say is, I’ve been going to NRL games since I was a little kid. I’ve sat in those seats for almost a decade now.
‘I know the difference between sledging and banter.’
The footage then shows the fan filming Manly star Jake Trbojevic heading up the tunnel after being sin-binned, yelling, ‘Yeah Jurbo, thank you Jurbo.’
‘When Jake Trbojevic was sin-binned you can clearly see in the video I was not disrespectful, I didn’t swear or sledge him at all,’ the fan said.
‘In the NRL we have created a culture that allows banter in the community and at NRL games.
‘I don’t think an NRL player should be allowed to walk up and collar a fan, but I also don’t think that he should face major repercussions of those actions, either.
‘And always, up the f***en Wahs, baby.’
The Warriors fan received plenty of support from footy fans for having the courage to put the video out and defend the Manly player.
‘Thanks for the clarification brother and what a guy pledging for no further action to be taken,’ one posted.
‘Fair enough and good on the bloke for coming out and clearing it up but i also see why the player might have thought that something more disrespectful had happened and probably acted like that cause of the high regard he has for Jurbo,’ added another.
But some footy fans questioned why the fan had left his seat to yell at Trbojevic.
‘Why does everything need to be filmed and posted for clout? Just sit in your seat and hackle from there,’ one fan posted.
‘No reason to be up in players faces with a camera. GCKT shouldn’t have touched you but you’re being a pest with your phone out and this falls back on our fan base looking bad.’
‘You would probably be best not to act like a college teenager mate. Enjoy the game but don’t act like an immature prat,’ posted another.
‘Does nothing to clarify anything why the need to leave your seat to abuse a footballer,’ added yet another.
The NRL is still investigating the incident with no sanctions handed down as of Monday morning.
“The NRL is aware of the video shared on social media and is making inquiries,” an NRL spokesperson said.
