1 00:00:00,200 --> 00:00:03,400 Speaker 1: The NRLNT has delivered its final set of bands in 2 00:00:03,440 --> 00:00:07,120 Speaker 1: relation to the eight people who disrupted a recent finals 3 00:00:07,160 --> 00:00:10,879 Speaker 1: match by brawling in the stands at TRL Stadium. According 4 00:00:10,920 --> 00:00:13,720 Speaker 1: to the NT News, a total of thirty four years 5 00:00:13,800 --> 00:00:16,759 Speaker 1: worth of bands have been handed down across the eight 6 00:00:16,840 --> 00:00:19,919 Speaker 1: people involved in that brawl that took place during the 7 00:00:19,960 --> 00:00:23,760 Speaker 1: Litchfield Versus Brothers semi final on August twenty three. Now 8 00:00:23,840 --> 00:00:27,560 Speaker 1: joining us in the studio is the CEO of nrl NT, 9 00:00:28,120 --> 00:00:30,200 Speaker 1: Tony Crow. Good morning to you, Tony. 10 00:00:30,000 --> 00:00:31,760 Speaker 2: Good morning, Katie, Good morning listeners. 11 00:00:32,120 --> 00:00:37,520 Speaker 1: Tony tell us the league initially identified six six spectators, 12 00:00:37,520 --> 00:00:40,160 Speaker 1: as I understand it, whose tribunals were held off until 13 00:00:40,760 --> 00:00:43,280 Speaker 1: post the Grand Final, but I understand that a further 14 00:00:43,360 --> 00:00:45,440 Speaker 1: two were eventually charged as well. 15 00:00:45,720 --> 00:00:49,000 Speaker 2: Yeah, there were six initially reports that came through, but 16 00:00:49,840 --> 00:00:52,360 Speaker 2: when you invest so much time and energy and resources 17 00:00:52,400 --> 00:00:58,080 Speaker 2: into reviewing video and reports, an additional two were identified. 18 00:00:58,120 --> 00:01:01,440 Speaker 2: And you mentioned in your open disruption to the game, 19 00:01:01,480 --> 00:01:04,919 Speaker 2: it's not just a disruption to the game, it's actually 20 00:01:05,000 --> 00:01:07,600 Speaker 2: a disruption to how the game's operating and how we 21 00:01:07,600 --> 00:01:10,640 Speaker 2: want to move forward. And you know the damage to 22 00:01:10,680 --> 00:01:13,400 Speaker 2: the game that these eight individuals have inflicted is not 23 00:01:14,560 --> 00:01:16,920 Speaker 2: is not something we'll tolerate. And we've been taking this 24 00:01:17,000 --> 00:01:20,200 Speaker 2: stance now for at least two years, if not three years. 25 00:01:20,240 --> 00:01:23,600 Speaker 2: So we're all about our house rules and if people 26 00:01:23,600 --> 00:01:26,920 Speaker 2: can't abide by them, they're not allowed and they can 27 00:01:26,959 --> 00:01:29,080 Speaker 2: find some other sport. But I know after working with 28 00:01:29,120 --> 00:01:31,440 Speaker 2: so many other peak sporting bodies in the territory that 29 00:01:31,440 --> 00:01:33,600 Speaker 2: they're not willing to open their doors for these people either. 30 00:01:33,680 --> 00:01:36,680 Speaker 1: Yeah. Look, the days of brawling in the grandstands are over. 31 00:01:36,800 --> 00:01:39,039 Speaker 1: You know. I remember going to the footy in Mount 32 00:01:39,080 --> 00:01:41,080 Speaker 1: iSER and all in brawls you know, on the field 33 00:01:41,080 --> 00:01:42,600 Speaker 1: and all sorts of things. In fact, if you want 34 00:01:42,640 --> 00:01:45,240 Speaker 1: to see some rough behavior, you know, you go to 35 00:01:45,319 --> 00:01:48,040 Speaker 1: Mount iSER twenty years ago, thirty years ago. But it's 36 00:01:48,120 --> 00:01:50,520 Speaker 1: just not tolerated anymore, nor should it be, because you 37 00:01:50,600 --> 00:01:52,200 Speaker 1: want it to be a safe place for our kids 38 00:01:52,200 --> 00:01:54,040 Speaker 1: to be able to go. They know that they can 39 00:01:54,040 --> 00:01:56,600 Speaker 1: play footy, they know they can play hard on the field, 40 00:01:56,800 --> 00:01:59,640 Speaker 1: but they don't have to worry about any ramifications off 41 00:01:59,640 --> 00:02:01,919 Speaker 1: the field or anything happening off the field. 42 00:02:02,040 --> 00:02:04,320 Speaker 2: And the concern about through this whole process was was 43 00:02:04,320 --> 00:02:07,560 Speaker 2: a lack of ownership. Now these eight individuals made decisions 44 00:02:08,200 --> 00:02:11,639 Speaker 2: and though the wrong decisions, and they've been had accountable 45 00:02:12,120 --> 00:02:14,200 Speaker 2: on a lot of occasions. These guys and people are 46 00:02:14,200 --> 00:02:17,880 Speaker 2: coming into the hearings and they're trying to blame everything 47 00:02:17,880 --> 00:02:22,200 Speaker 2: else apart from themselves and owning it, and unfortunately they're 48 00:02:22,200 --> 00:02:24,720 Speaker 2: surrounded by other people that are trying to find excuses, 49 00:02:24,840 --> 00:02:27,880 Speaker 2: whether it's you know, there's so many other different things. 50 00:02:28,280 --> 00:02:30,560 Speaker 2: What we need is people taking ownership of their behaviors. 51 00:02:30,680 --> 00:02:34,000 Speaker 1: So Tony, after sort of going through that security vision 52 00:02:34,080 --> 00:02:34,919 Speaker 1: or the vision. 53 00:02:34,720 --> 00:02:37,560 Speaker 3: You know that was what have you deemed how to happen? 54 00:02:37,720 --> 00:02:37,800 Speaker 1: Like? 55 00:02:37,960 --> 00:02:38,079 Speaker 3: Was it? 56 00:02:38,600 --> 00:02:40,960 Speaker 1: Was it a fight amongst these eight people? 57 00:02:41,040 --> 00:02:43,040 Speaker 3: What exactly happens? Ah? 58 00:02:43,120 --> 00:02:45,200 Speaker 2: Look, I think we all hide behind the fact that 59 00:02:45,240 --> 00:02:48,720 Speaker 2: we're passionate about our game and we're passionate about our clubs. 60 00:02:48,720 --> 00:02:50,680 Speaker 2: And I have no doubt that you know, there was 61 00:02:50,800 --> 00:02:53,320 Speaker 2: some maybe what it started off with a little bit 62 00:02:53,320 --> 00:02:55,760 Speaker 2: of banter. Potentially all of a sudden it gets ugly 63 00:02:55,800 --> 00:02:58,520 Speaker 2: and people take matters in their own hands. And it 64 00:02:58,560 --> 00:03:01,760 Speaker 2: may have only started with two people, but then all 65 00:03:01,800 --> 00:03:04,200 Speaker 2: of a sudden, people, you know, they're trying to jump 66 00:03:04,280 --> 00:03:07,000 Speaker 2: in and trying to stop it and play a role 67 00:03:07,080 --> 00:03:11,480 Speaker 2: in trying to limit it, but unfortunately that doesn't happen. 68 00:03:11,560 --> 00:03:13,440 Speaker 2: It escalates and no different. What we need to get 69 00:03:13,520 --> 00:03:15,560 Speaker 2: to a point is like what happens on the field 70 00:03:15,560 --> 00:03:17,440 Speaker 2: when there's a fight on the field, you know, the 71 00:03:17,480 --> 00:03:19,680 Speaker 2: referees and the touch. I just try to create an 72 00:03:19,760 --> 00:03:23,600 Speaker 2: environment where nobody can go in league safe sports trainers 73 00:03:23,639 --> 00:03:26,359 Speaker 2: can't go in, and we just allow those few people 74 00:03:26,880 --> 00:03:30,000 Speaker 2: to continue until they decide to stop. So what happened 75 00:03:30,000 --> 00:03:32,000 Speaker 2: here in this incident, It probably started with two people 76 00:03:32,000 --> 00:03:34,239 Speaker 2: and the vision shows. Then all of a sudden it 77 00:03:34,400 --> 00:03:37,360 Speaker 2: escalated and you know, one of the people one of 78 00:03:37,400 --> 00:03:39,840 Speaker 2: the people involved, and you know, we take this seriously 79 00:03:39,880 --> 00:03:41,680 Speaker 2: and a lot of the stuff comes back about our 80 00:03:41,720 --> 00:03:44,400 Speaker 2: mental health and well being and all that. Well, you know, 81 00:03:44,440 --> 00:03:46,760 Speaker 2: I've got staff that deal with this five days a week, 82 00:03:47,200 --> 00:03:51,240 Speaker 2: week after week after week. I have to I'm concerned 83 00:03:51,240 --> 00:03:53,640 Speaker 2: about their well being. So we've got some ownership in 84 00:03:53,680 --> 00:03:56,320 Speaker 2: that space and making sure once again we provide a fun, 85 00:03:56,400 --> 00:03:58,880 Speaker 2: safe environment, not just for the spectators but also for 86 00:03:58,920 --> 00:04:01,160 Speaker 2: the people that investing and working there. 87 00:04:01,480 --> 00:04:03,000 Speaker 3: So what have they been charged with. 88 00:04:04,000 --> 00:04:07,600 Speaker 2: It's a number of number of different charges, but it's 89 00:04:07,600 --> 00:04:09,600 Speaker 2: all about striking okay. 90 00:04:10,080 --> 00:04:13,000 Speaker 1: And so from this point, you know, how do those 91 00:04:13,160 --> 00:04:16,719 Speaker 1: bands vary? You know, like as in what have people 92 00:04:16,760 --> 00:04:18,560 Speaker 1: been like, well, what have they you know, what's their 93 00:04:18,560 --> 00:04:21,560 Speaker 1: punishment and and how does it sort of vary? 94 00:04:21,760 --> 00:04:25,839 Speaker 2: It varies across you know, each each individual case is 95 00:04:25,880 --> 00:04:29,080 Speaker 2: totally separate and based on their behaviors and their actions 96 00:04:29,120 --> 00:04:31,600 Speaker 2: within the vision and the reports that we get. So 97 00:04:31,640 --> 00:04:34,200 Speaker 2: it is very There's some individuals there that have got 98 00:04:34,240 --> 00:04:37,760 Speaker 2: six years, and then there's a couple with five down 99 00:04:37,800 --> 00:04:40,320 Speaker 2: to four, and then there's another the last one that 100 00:04:40,320 --> 00:04:43,960 Speaker 2: we've only just recently completed for three years, I. 101 00:04:43,920 --> 00:04:45,320 Speaker 3: Mean six years, Tony. 102 00:04:45,400 --> 00:04:47,800 Speaker 1: That's a massive amount of time to be banned from 103 00:04:47,880 --> 00:04:50,600 Speaker 1: going to watch the game that you love. Like, it's 104 00:04:50,640 --> 00:04:52,840 Speaker 1: actually a really big call by a n r l NT, 105 00:04:53,960 --> 00:04:56,039 Speaker 1: you know, to ban people for that period of time. 106 00:04:56,440 --> 00:04:58,320 Speaker 2: It absolutely is a big call, but we don't take 107 00:04:58,360 --> 00:05:01,360 Speaker 2: it lightly. But throughout the whole process we get a 108 00:05:01,360 --> 00:05:03,960 Speaker 2: lot of feedback around we're pushing people away from the game. Well, 109 00:05:04,160 --> 00:05:05,919 Speaker 2: I'm happy to push these eight people away from the 110 00:05:05,920 --> 00:05:08,040 Speaker 2: game because I have no doubt there's probably another eighty 111 00:05:08,920 --> 00:05:10,800 Speaker 2: willing to come in and want to be involved. When 112 00:05:11,040 --> 00:05:12,920 Speaker 2: we're demonstrating these types of actions. 113 00:05:13,080 --> 00:05:15,599 Speaker 1: And do you feel as though NRL and has been 114 00:05:15,760 --> 00:05:18,440 Speaker 1: fair in terms of the punishment you know, across the 115 00:05:18,480 --> 00:05:20,520 Speaker 1: board for everybody that's involved. 116 00:05:20,120 --> 00:05:22,800 Speaker 2: One hundred percent fair. You know, we live and breathe 117 00:05:23,240 --> 00:05:25,360 Speaker 2: rugby league and we live and breathe and providing that fun, 118 00:05:25,400 --> 00:05:28,680 Speaker 2: safe environment. These decisions we don't make lightly. And to 119 00:05:28,720 --> 00:05:32,120 Speaker 2: be honest, it's not these outcomes aren't delivered by NRL 120 00:05:32,200 --> 00:05:34,800 Speaker 2: and t that they're delivered by due diligence through the 121 00:05:34,880 --> 00:05:39,400 Speaker 2: judiciary process, which is an independent panel that makes these 122 00:05:39,400 --> 00:05:42,040 Speaker 2: decisions based on the guidelines provided by the NRL. 123 00:05:42,200 --> 00:05:45,479 Speaker 1: Did any of these people play end up facing police 124 00:05:45,560 --> 00:05:46,479 Speaker 1: charges as well? 125 00:05:47,800 --> 00:05:48,800 Speaker 2: Not that I'm aware of none. 126 00:05:49,440 --> 00:05:53,640 Speaker 1: What I mean from these bands, like I said, it's 127 00:05:53,680 --> 00:05:58,080 Speaker 1: a big call. It's a you know, the hefty bands. 128 00:05:58,160 --> 00:06:01,160 Speaker 1: In some cases, like you said six year years. Three 129 00:06:01,200 --> 00:06:03,719 Speaker 1: people were handed five year bands as I understand it, 130 00:06:03,760 --> 00:06:07,320 Speaker 1: two were given four years, another person received three. Final 131 00:06:07,360 --> 00:06:11,800 Speaker 1: spectator handed that two year ban. Now, in terms of 132 00:06:11,880 --> 00:06:16,200 Speaker 1: the message that you are hoping that these bands send, 133 00:06:16,880 --> 00:06:19,400 Speaker 1: what are you hoping that you know to achieve? And 134 00:06:19,480 --> 00:06:22,440 Speaker 1: what is the NRL as a sporting body here in 135 00:06:22,480 --> 00:06:25,640 Speaker 1: the Northern Territory. You're hoping to achieve and that message 136 00:06:25,640 --> 00:06:28,200 Speaker 1: that you're hoping to send to those out in the 137 00:06:28,200 --> 00:06:30,960 Speaker 1: community or out you know, playing footy, comeing to watch 138 00:06:31,880 --> 00:06:33,799 Speaker 1: in terms of the behavior that's expected. 139 00:06:34,520 --> 00:06:36,919 Speaker 2: Look, the message that we're trying to set and send 140 00:06:37,000 --> 00:06:39,200 Speaker 2: is no different too, whether you're at football or whether 141 00:06:39,200 --> 00:06:41,480 Speaker 2: you're at home. Let's start treating each other with respect. 142 00:06:42,040 --> 00:06:43,880 Speaker 2: You know, we're all entitled to our opinion. We all 143 00:06:43,880 --> 00:06:46,679 Speaker 2: want to show some passion supporting our teams and our clubs, 144 00:06:46,839 --> 00:06:48,039 Speaker 2: but at the end of the day, we just want 145 00:06:48,040 --> 00:06:51,880 Speaker 2: people to come in, enjoy themselves, support their team, to 146 00:06:51,960 --> 00:06:54,680 Speaker 2: most importantly respect other people around them, and let's all 147 00:06:54,720 --> 00:06:57,480 Speaker 2: just celebrate rugby league and what community sports all about. 148 00:06:57,520 --> 00:07:00,600 Speaker 1: Now, I understand that there's also a such suation here 149 00:07:00,600 --> 00:07:03,159 Speaker 1: where this is going across to rugby union as well. 150 00:07:03,240 --> 00:07:05,919 Speaker 2: Is that right? Yeah? As I said earlier, it's about 151 00:07:06,120 --> 00:07:08,920 Speaker 2: all of us standing up for poor behaviors and we've 152 00:07:08,960 --> 00:07:10,320 Speaker 2: got a bit of work to do in that space. 153 00:07:10,400 --> 00:07:13,560 Speaker 2: You know. Unfortunately, in some spaces our clubs are reliant 154 00:07:13,600 --> 00:07:16,440 Speaker 2: on volunteers, and it is community rugby league based on 155 00:07:16,560 --> 00:07:19,680 Speaker 2: it's driven heavily by volunteers. But we've all got to 156 00:07:19,680 --> 00:07:21,520 Speaker 2: stand strong and not accept this. You know, at the 157 00:07:21,560 --> 00:07:23,480 Speaker 2: end of the day, I've got to look our partners 158 00:07:23,520 --> 00:07:26,720 Speaker 2: in the face, our corporate sponsors, our media, anti government, 159 00:07:26,760 --> 00:07:28,360 Speaker 2: and our our integrity. I've got to look at them 160 00:07:28,360 --> 00:07:32,400 Speaker 2: in the face and demonstrate that we're acting according to 161 00:07:32,600 --> 00:07:33,320 Speaker 2: due process. 162 00:07:33,440 --> 00:07:35,640 Speaker 1: Someone's just messaged through and see Katie. Banning people is 163 00:07:35,680 --> 00:07:38,080 Speaker 1: all well and good, but without facial recognition, how are 164 00:07:38,080 --> 00:07:39,040 Speaker 1: they going to be kept out? 165 00:07:39,280 --> 00:07:42,040 Speaker 2: That's the challenge. Also, you know, I've been to so 166 00:07:42,040 --> 00:07:45,640 Speaker 2: many different sporting venues across the world and I walk 167 00:07:45,680 --> 00:07:47,400 Speaker 2: into a stadium and you never see any sort of 168 00:07:47,520 --> 00:07:50,240 Speaker 2: signage around if you spot this person or how do 169 00:07:50,280 --> 00:07:52,680 Speaker 2: we manage that? So we've all got an obligation there, 170 00:07:52,680 --> 00:07:54,680 Speaker 2: We've got we're working on trying to find a way 171 00:07:54,720 --> 00:07:57,920 Speaker 2: that we can improve that. But we've all got to 172 00:07:57,960 --> 00:08:01,320 Speaker 2: work together in that space. And traditionally we've if someone's 173 00:08:01,600 --> 00:08:03,840 Speaker 2: in the ground that shouldn't be there, were generally quick 174 00:08:04,120 --> 00:08:06,000 Speaker 2: to be identified and notified of that. 175 00:08:06,240 --> 00:08:07,960 Speaker 1: Are you concerned or do you think there'll be sort 176 00:08:07,960 --> 00:08:10,040 Speaker 1: of any legal pushback from any of these people that 177 00:08:10,120 --> 00:08:10,840 Speaker 1: have been banned. 178 00:08:12,400 --> 00:08:14,280 Speaker 2: I'm not the stage at the end of the day. 179 00:08:14,760 --> 00:08:17,960 Speaker 2: You know, even our judiciary process and code of conducts. 180 00:08:17,960 --> 00:08:22,880 Speaker 2: It's not a law abiding process. It's based around community 181 00:08:22,880 --> 00:08:25,440 Speaker 2: sport and that'll be up to the individuals. 182 00:08:25,720 --> 00:08:29,120 Speaker 1: Well. Nrl NT CEO Tony Crow, good to have you 183 00:08:29,120 --> 00:08:31,360 Speaker 1: in the studio. I appreciate your time and see you 184 00:08:31,400 --> 00:08:32,920 Speaker 1: wearing your Dolphins cap this morning. 185 00:08:32,960 --> 00:08:35,360 Speaker 3: I've got my tongue colors on as well for the weekend. 186 00:08:35,920 --> 00:08:37,360 Speaker 2: No thanks, Cardie, appreciate it. 187 00:08:37,400 --> 00:08:38,120 Speaker 3: Thank you.