Battle of Brookvale

Battle of Brookvale
Manly-Warringah
Sea Eagles		 Melbourne
Storm
18 4
1 2 Total
MAN 14 4 18
MEL 0 4 4
Date 26 August 2011
Stadium Brookvale Oval
Location Manly, New South Wales
Referees Shayne Hayne, Gavin Badger
Attendance 20,414
Broadcast partner
Broadcaster Nine Network
Commentators Ray Warren, Peter Sterling, Phil Gould, Wally Lewis

The Battle of Brookvale was the unofficial name given to the Round 25, 2011 National Rugby League (NRL) match between the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles and Melbourne Storm, played at Brookvale Oval on 26 August 2011.

A number of incidents in the first half led to some fights breaking out all over the ground, eventually turning into a five-minute brawl involving all players on the ground. Following the brawl, Manly went on to win the match 18–4, on its way to finishing second on the premiership ladder.

Several players faced charges at the NRL Judiciary with suspensions and fines being handed out.

Background

The Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles and the Melbourne Storm have, in recent years, engaged in a modern-day rivalry which is amongst one of the most recognised in the National Rugby League today. In seven of eight seasons between 2006 and 2013 (except 2010), at least one of these two teams has featured in the Grand Final, and, in the four of five seasons between 2007 and 2012, one of these teams has won the premiership, though the Storm's 2007 and 2009 titles (the former of which was won by defeating Manly in the Grand Final) were to be later stripped from the club as a result of salary cap breaches exposed by the NRL in 2010.[1]

The height of this rivalry came with the two clubs' meetings in the 2007 and 2008 NRL Grand Finals. Melbourne defeated Manly 34–8 to win the 2007 title, whilst Manly reversed the result and won by a record 40–0 scoreline in 2008. They have also featured in two finals matches, with Melbourne winning both by the scoreline of 40–12 in the 2009 qualifying final and the 2012 preliminary final.

This was to be the first match attended by David Gallop of either side since suspending Brett Stewart from the first four weeks of the 2009 season for a sexual assault charge for which he would later be exonerated, and since stripping the Storm of two premiership titles and three minor premiership titles for salary cap breaches; extra security was hired for his presence at the game.[2]

During the match

Lead-up to the brawl

Kieran Foran scored the first try of the match for the Sea Eagles early in the first half, after Billy Slater misjudged a ball which had bounced in the Sea Eagles' in-goal area.[3]

In the 22nd minute of the match, Manly winger David Williams suffered a neck injury, which resulted in play being suspended whilst he was carried off the stretcher. In stark contrast to what would come later in the game, Billy Slater who had tackled Williams (the Wolfman had hit Slater's chest with the top of his head which caused the injury), realising there was a neck injury, cradled Williams and wouldn't let him move or his Manly team mates move him until the medical staff arrived.[3][4]

The brawl

Shortly after the Williams injury, Melbourne interchange forward Ryan Hinchcliffe conceded a penalty when he struck Manly's Darcy Lussick close to the Sea Eagles' line.[5] This resulted in a brawl between the two players, following which Adam Blair and Glenn Stewart were sin-binned for joining in.

On their way to the dressing rooms, a major brawl erupted between the two players, which involved players and officials from both sides; the two subsequently had their sin-bin punishments upgraded to a send off, meaning they would take no further part in the match.[6]

Apart from the main culprits, many other players, including Brett Stewart, also joined in the brawl, with Stewart claiming that he was acting in self-defence of his older brother. Officials and trainers from both clubs also joined in the brawl.[7]

After the brawl

Manly captain Jamie Lyon converted a penalty goal from the Hinchcliffe penalty from right in front, as the Sea Eagles' lead stretched to 8–0. The Sea Eagles would eventually win 18–4 with a late Billy Slater try preventing the Storm from being held scoreless for the first time since the 2008 NRL Grand Final.[3]

Judiciary

No fewer than ten players and two officials from both clubs were later charged by the NRL Judiciary for their roles in the brawl, with both Glenn Stewart and Adam Blair referred straight to the judiciary. Additionally, each club was fined $50,000 from the NRL.[8][7][9] For their parts, Glenn Stewart and Adam Blair were both banned for three and five matches respectively.[10][11]

The charges and outcomes were as follows:

Manly

Player Charge Grade Outcome
Glenn Stewart Contrary Conduct – fighting Referred Three-match suspension[11]
Darcy Lussick Contrary Conduct 4 Three-match suspension[12]
Brett Stewart Contrary Conduct 3 One-match suspension
Kieran Foran Contrary Conduct 2 One-match suspension[13]
Michael Robertson Contrary Conduct 1

Melbourne

Player Charge Grade Outcome
Adam Blair Contrary Conduct – fighting Referred Five-match suspension[10]
Striking 2
Sisa Waqa Detrimental Conduct 2
Bryan Norrie Detrimental Conduct 1
Jaiman Lowe Detrimental Conduct 1
Sika Manu Detrimental Conduct 1

Reaction

Then-NRL CEO David Gallop condemned the actions of both teams, saying:

The sight of so many players from both teams fighting, of people running in and leaving the bench area, was a horrendous look for the game.

Despite the spiteful nature of the match, Melbourne's Billy Slater won universal praise for his actions after the neck injury to Manly winger David Williams.

References

  1. ↑ Munro, Ian (23 April 2010). "Melbourne Storm stripped of everything". The Age. Retrieved 23 April 2010.
  2. ↑ Honeysett, Stuart (24 August 2011). "Security for David Gallop at Brookvale". The Australian. Retrieved 11 November 2011.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Sea Eagles rout Storm in fiery clash, ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation), 26 August 2011
  4. ↑ "NRL: Neck injury ends Williams' season". New Zealand Herald. 29 August 2011. Retrieved 11 November 2011.
  5. ↑ Manly Sea Eagles beat Melbourne Storm 18-4 in NRL round 25, The Daily Telegraph, 27 August 2011
  6. ↑ Jackson, Glenn (27 August 2011). "Battle of Brookie set to take toll on big guns' title assault". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 11 November 2011.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 No less than 12 players and officials from Manly and Melbourne Storm will be scrutinized by the NRL, Fox Sports Australia, 29 August 2011
  8. ↑ Mass charges after Battle of Brookvale, Sports News First, 29 August 2011
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 Ritchie, Dean (29 August 2011). "Manly Sea Eagles and Melbourne Storm fined $50,000 each and 10 players charged by NRL judiciary after 'Battle of Brookie'". The Daily Telegraph (Australia). Retrieved 11 November 2011.
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 Blair banned for five for Battle of Brookvale, Sports News First, 31 August 2011
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 Fight night: Stewart, Blair out for season, Sydney Morning Herald, 30 August 2011
  12. ↑ Darcy Lussick's brawl gloating draws David Gallop's ire, The Australian, 1 September 2011
  13. ↑ Ban halts Manly's playmaker Kieran Foran from facing Darren Lockyer, The Australian, 31 August 2011

External links