- Melee spread across the sidelines in the third match
- Several Nine stars were central
- Two players are suspended
Several Channel Nine stars were nearly caught up in the wild commotion on the sidelines during Wednesday night’s State of Origin match, including pregnant football reporters Allana Ferguson and Emma Lawrence.
The brawl made football history as NSW forward Cameron Murray became the first player ever to be jailed while off the field after being caught up in the chaos while on the bench.
And the Blues’ 19th man, Haumole Olakau’atu, who was dressed in a suit, was banished to the dressing room after also being caught up in the altercation.
Ferguson, Lawrence, their fellow outside line eye Danika Mason and announcer James Bracey were at risk of being swarmed by the players as they fought, the Sydney Morning Herald reported.
Bracey posted a video on Instagram with the caption “Guys, I’m trying to watch football!” showing him being punched by the coaching staff who tried to break up the confrontation. The confrontation began when Daly Cherry-Evans and Jarome Luai punched each other on the touchline.
During the scuffle, his coffee flew everywhere. A TV screen and several chairs were also knocked over when it landed on the spot where Nine’s presenters and production team were.
Mason also posted a video of the players fighting just inches away from her, with the caption: “The decider! It doesn’t get any closer than this.”
Lawrence announced her baby news just ahead of the first game in this year’s Origin series.
Video of nine-star James Bracey showed him being struck as the Origin melee spread across the touchline to an area where he and some of his colleagues were stationed
Bracey’s co-star Emma Lawrence – who announced her pregnancy just before the first match of this year’s series – was also involved in the wild scenes
Pregnant Nine-footy pundit Allana Ferguson (pictured with Bracey) was also up front as the Maroons and Blues engaged in a chaotic confrontation
“This off-season is going to be busy! We can’t wait to meet you little one,” she posted on Instagram, accompanied by a photo of the baby scan and her boyfriend, who is a senior producer for Channel Nine’s rugby league coverage.
Ferguson has spoken candidly about her IVF journey in 2022 and announced on Instagram earlier this week that she is going to be a mother for the third time. In a post with a video of her showing her son Parker and son Zave her ultrasound, she wrote: “We want to love and hug you forever.”
In a dramatic postscript to the Blues’ first series win in three years, both Murray and Olakau’atu were charged with third-degree misconduct on Thursday for jumping off the NSW bench to join the melee.
Murray and Olakau’atu both pleaded guilty early on Thursday night, avoiding a court appearance and risking a third game on the sidelines.
They made their pleas despite South Sydney and Manly officials expressing frustration that the Origin breaches would now impact their club seasons and finals chances.
Eight other players were fined as the NRL desperately tried to send a message after a brawl that saw the ball bounce off the touchline and players crash into exercise bikes and TV screens.
Jeremiah Nanai, Brian To’o, Reuben Cotter and Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow were each fined $6,000 for their involvement in the brawl in the first half of the Blues’ 14-4 win.