Two NRL Fans Arrested Amid Wild On-Field Celebrations After Record Try
Two NRL fans have been arrested following chaotic on-field celebrations that erupted after South Sydney winger Alex Johnston broke the code's all-time try-scoring record. Despite earlier threats from administrators, no fines were issued in the immediate aftermath of the mass pitch invasion at Allianz Stadium.
Chaos Erupts as Johnston Makes History
Thousands of supporters rushed onto the field when the Rabbitohs flyer entered rarefied air with his 213th career try during Friday night's 26-18 loss to the Sydney Roosters. A police spokeswoman confirmed to AAP on Saturday that a 39-year-old man was arrested for assaulting a security guard amid the on-field mayhem.
He was issued a court attendance notice for the offences of common assault and entering the field of play, according to an official statement.
Second Arrest Made for Pre-emptive Invasion
Police have also charged a 45-year-old man accused of attempting to rush onto the field after Johnston scored his first try of the game, which drew him level with previous record-holder Ken Irvine's mark of 212 tries set in 1973. This occurred prior to the mass pitch invasion that followed when Johnston broke the record outright.
The pre-emptive pitch invader has been summoned to appear in court for the offence of entering the field of play, the police statement read. Both men were issued banning notices and will appear before court on a later date.
Fines Waived Despite Earlier Threats
In the days leading up to the round-two clash, fans had been threatened with $5,500 fines for entering the field of play. However, AAP has been informed that Venues NSW is unlikely to issue fines due to the sheer number of pitch invaders, most of whom behaved passively once on the field.
The initial playing area intruder may still face action from Venues NSW, but the organisation is considering waiving his fine as well. The majority of supporters returned to the stands within minutes of Johnston's record-breaking try, allowing play to resume around 15 minutes after the historic moment at the northern in-goal.
Comparison to AFL Incident
By comparison, when AFL fans rushed the pitch for Lance Franklin's 1000th career goal in 2022, it took more than half an hour for play to resume at the SCG, highlighting the relative swiftness of the NRL response. This incident underscores ongoing challenges in managing fan celebrations during major sporting milestones.
