Paul Gallen slams ‘idiots’ at New Zealand Warriors vs Broncos game for appalling behaviour in Napier

Footy legend Paul Gallen has condemned the pitch invaders during Saturday’s game between the Warriors and Broncos in Napier – insisting the NRL should stop taking New Zealand games if ‘idiots’ can’t behave.

The Warriors were defeated by an underpowered Broncos squad 26-22 in a game repeatedly interrupted by field invasions at McLean Park.

The match went down to the wire, but the big topic of conversation on social media afterwards was the many pitch invaders running onto the pitch.

Gallen, who says he’s glad more matches have been played in New Zealand since the pandemic, was furious at the crowd’s interruptions.

“The crowd’s behavior was appalling, to be honest,” Gallen said on Nine’s Sunday Footy Show.

Gallen, who says he’s glad more matches have been played in New Zealand since the pandemic, was furious at Saturday night’s crowd disruptions

“I have been a big supporter of as much rugby league as possible in New Zealand so we can play matches all over the country. But the way that crowd behaved last night will be impossible.

“The NRL can’t let more games go there and travel around the country. Having three or four streakers overnight is not good enough for a professional league like the NRL.

“It was horrible behavior.

“All the sacrifices the Warriors have made over the years to keep the game going, the country deserves more rugby league there, but they just can’t take them there.

‘Just idiots. Just stupid to act, just stupid.’

Gallen wasn’t the only former pro disappointed by the pitch invaders, with former All Black Israel Dagg calling on Kiwi crowds to berate them rather than cheer them.

“People who encourage these streakers should be ashamed of themselves! he wrote on Twitter.

‘Don’t applaud them!! Boo them!! It’s terrible.’

New Zealand skipper Tohu Harris also expressed frustration at the repeated crowd interruptions at Napier

New Zealand skipper Tohu Harris also expressed frustration with the crowd at Napier.

“It gets really annoying, especially when we try to get ourselves back into the game,” he said after the game.

The Warriors had a similar problem in their opening game of the season against Newcastle, with 13 pitch invasions injuring a pair of guards.

Security chief Ben Wooding, who runs Red Badge Security, said if the trend continues New Zealand may have to change the way they watch sport.

“Like the next person, I’m convinced this is the Warriors’ year, and I don’t think anyone wants to come to sporting events with big cages around the field,” Wooding said.

“We see in other places in the world where there are big cages, or guards standing shoulder to shoulder and I don’t think that’s the direction we want to go.

“I think our staff has a right to be safe, they come to work and we organize these events next to the stadiums, and we are focused on the safety of fans, players and I think we have to think about our employees as well who are in the line of fire.’

Police said 12 people who entered McLean Park in the last 10 minutes of Saturday’s game were stopped by Red Badge security and subsequently arrested.

Pitch invasion is illegal in New Zealand and carries a fine of up to $5,000 or a three-month prison sentence.