Rugby league is known for a bit of biff.
NRL teams have been plagued with issues surrounding violence on and off the field for years. But from social players to professionals, the game has cleaned up in recent times so some officials were shocked to learn of a local match erupting in
a brawl at the weekend.
The Bay of Plenty Times yesterday reported about the melee at Saturday's game which spilled from the field and continued among the spectators.
Otumoetai Eels chairman Stan Nicholas told this newspaper that a father of a Ngongotaha player pulled a fence stake from the ground and attacked another father of an Eels player.
The man was not seriously injured and the fight did not escalate.
The match was part of the WaiCoa Bay premiership competition - a level at which this sort of behaviour is not expected.
Mr Nicholas says the game has cleaned up in the past few years and they "don't need something like that to put a dampener on our game".
He is absolutely right. This sort of behaviour does not set a good example for our younger sports players and brings the sport into disrepute.
However the general manager of Upper Central Rugby League, Marcus Reynolds, could only say that the incident was "disappointing" and "uncommon".
He says people have a perception that there are fights in rugby league but this was more in the 70s and 80s - "things are very different these days".
Clearly that is not the case.
Rugby league is a full contact sport with many passionate players but any aggression should be used to play a better game.
Violent attitudes from players and their supporters must be stamped out.
Mr Reynolds' underwhelming response is not acceptable.
He made no mention of any action to be taken against the spectator or the club when in fact a full investigation is needed.
Those responsible for causing this ruckus should be banned from future games and made to take part in a fair play course.
This sort behaviour in a social setting is only teaching our youngsters that violence is an acceptable solution when life doesn't go your way.
But as the well known family violence ad says - it's not okay.
