Sutherland Shire’s De La Salle have received a team-wide one-match ban after a wild brawl in their game against the Yarrawarrah Tigers.
The ban comes as part of the NSWRL’s new initiative to crack down on brawls and fighting within the league.
Shocking footage shows a wild brawl break out between the teams with a headbutt and punches thrown.
De La Salle’s Jackson Stewart was at the centre of it all as he appeared to headbutt former NRL player Brad Deitz.
The melee all started when Jackson took exception to being slammed to the ground by Deitz.
Vision of the incident shows Jackson shoving his opponent in the face as he tried to get Deitz off him in the tackle.
Jackson Stewat appeared to headbutt Yarrawarrah Tigers player Brad Deitz in a moment of madness
The two were embroiled in a melee as De La Salle players rushed to get involved
As the two got back to their feet there were some initial handbags before things escalated as Jackson lunged at Deitz with a headbutt.
That caused a mass brawl between both teams as Andrew Fifita, formerly of the Cronulla Sharks rushes in to get involved.
A second fight then broke out between two other players as the melee continued away from the first flashpoint.
Somehow, despite being at the centre of the brawl, Jackson avoided any on-field punishment for his moment of madness.
He was however given a three-week ban after the game by the NSWRL judiciary following the game.
Deitz received a red card for his role in the melee and was handed a one-match ban by the NSWRL judiciary.
Deitz’s Tigers teammate, Kenny Timu was also given his marching orders despite not being involved in the initial incident.
De La Salle were then handed a team-wide one week ban, essentially meaning they will forfeit their next match.
The decision by the NSWRL is set to be appealed by the club as they seek to avoid missing out on a game.
‘De La Salle is seeking leave to appeal a one-game suspension imposed on their Men’s Open Age team following an incident with Yarrawarrah Tigers at Captain Cook Oval on Saturday 27 June,’ the NSWRL said.
The league’s new stance on brawls and melees has laid out clear guidelines and punishments for any team or player who falls foul of them.
This includes entire teams being stood down if a player joins or attempts to break up an on-field melee.
There are even harsher punishments in the framework for coaches and other club officials should they get involved, while spectators who enter the field of play face a minimum 12-month ban.
They have also made it clear that a melee is ‘any on-field altercation, brawl, fight or physical confrontation involving any level of violence or foul play – by one or more participants.’
The new edict also states a player who ‘walks, jogs or runs toward a melee – even to separate teammates, restrain a player or act as apeacemaker – is in breach of melee escalation rules.’
The NSWRL have introduced their new policy as an attempt to curb a rise in violence on the field after a series of incidents across grassroots rugby.
