Thompson ?filthy? over abuse from Sharks fans
By BRAD WALTER
March 14, 2016, 9:30 p.m.
Abuse: Joel Thompson.
The RLPA is investigating security and welfare issues during and after Sunday's Sharks-Dragons match, including allegations that drunken fans abused St George Illawarra forward Joel Thompson in front of his wife and two year old daughter and threatened to urinate on their car as they were leaving Southern Cross Group Stadium.
The incident occurred after players were forced to walk from the dressing rooms under the western grandstand to a car park in the adjoining Sharkies Leagues Club, which is on the opposite side of the ground.
Cronulla officials have also been asked to explain why fans of all ages were on to field while the teams were waiting for a post-match presentation of the Monty Porter Memorial Cup after the Sharks' 30-2 win, raising fears that a player could be assaulted.
The RLPA has also raised welfare concerns after Dragons Under 20s players were forced to spend their half time break on the field and had to wait up to 60 minutes after their match to access the dressing room because the club's NRL team was using it.
While no incident is known to have occurred when the fans invaded the field, Cronulla chief executive Lyall Gorman admitted there had been potential safety issues.
The Sharks conducted a review of security at the ground last season after captain Paul Gallen was confronted by the father of a 10-year-old boy he was accused of refusing to sign an autograph for after a home match against North Queensland but the incident with Thompson indicates that players are still open to abuse from fans.
Thompson took to Twitter on Sunday night to express his frustration over the lack of post-match security after his wife Amy and daughter Imogen were intimidated in the car park but later deleted the post and reported the incident to St George Illawarra officials.
"Happy to cop abuse especially after that game," Thompson tweeted. "Drunken Sharks fans are a disgrace. Coming over threatening to piss on my car. Swearing in front of my two year old girl. Hard to take in front of my family. You're very lucky there are consequences if I reacted how I wanted to. I'm filthy."
A fan tweeted an apology to Thompson on Monday.
The RLPA is expected to write to Cronulla asking the club to provide security or an alternative way for players and their families to get to the car park without having to risk an encounter with drunken or abusive fans before the Sharks next home game against Melbourne on Monday, March 28.
Gorman said he was unaware of the incident involving Thompson and his family but confirmed there had been a security debrief on Sunday night and Monday to discuss why the fans were on the field so soon after fulltime and how to improve player safety.
"It certainly wasn't sanctioned that way," Gorman said. "We schedule a kick on the field for the kids but it is supposed to be after the second hooter. Some of the young boys and girls on the back of a big win got carried away and it led to a lot of kids being on the field.
"We take that seriously but it is hard to be critical of young kids being emotional and celebrating their heroes. We have to balance that with the welfare of the players and the kids themselves. If a big player turned and accidentally ran over one ... we don't want any of that.
"A lot of people, including media, said how good it looked from a fan engagement point of view but it is something we are certainly focused on making sure doesn't happen at the venue again for welfare and safety reasons."
Asked about the Thompson incident, Gorman said: "We don't condone or appreciate or accept that sort of behaviour and I guess it is regretible in totality but at least the fan, if it was a fan from our club, has stood up and apologised".
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