Unusual object stops NRL match after pitch invader storms field in bizarre scenes
- Match stopped by referee to remove mobile phone from pitch
- The phone was probably dropped by a pitch invader who stormed the ground
- Roosters defeated the Canterbury Bulldogs 26-8 in wet conditions
A pitch invader has bizarrely caused an NRL match to be stopped twice in one night in the match between the Roosters and Bulldogs in Gosford.
During the first half of the match, a streaker ran onto the muddy pitch of the Industree Group Stadium, forcing a stoppage of play and security to deal with the incident.
Shortly afterwards, referee Grant Atkins had to stop the match again after finding a telephone on the ground, probably dropped by the pitch invader.
‘We have a whistle, there is a telephone. An iPhone on the field, and you can only guess where it came from,” Warren Smith said in a commentary.
A streaker (pictured) stormed the field during the first half of the Roosters-Bulldogs match
Shortly afterwards, the match was stopped again to remove a mobile phone from the field
Michael Ennis added shortly afterwards: ‘The lady who decided to do a 100m sprint, she dropped her phone.’
Roosters halfback Sam Walker has orchestrated a 26-8 defeat to Canterbury that will see his side finish the weekend in the top four for the first time since March.
Fetalaiga Pauga was sent off in the final eight minutes for an ugly high shot at Bulldogs fullback Connor Tracey and the Roosters were then reduced to 11 men after Walker made a professional foul.
But their lead never looked threatened despite the late losses, with the side confirming victory at a rainy Central Coast Stadium even without their four State of Origin representatives.
“We are improving,” Roosters coach Trent Robinson said.
‘I feel like we know where we are going, we are very clear in our game. We are going in the right direction.’
Despite a breakout display from ex-rugby sevens star Jeral Skelton, the Bulldogs struggled for consistent chances, in no small part due to their poor ball handling in the rain.
Through the first 75 minutes of Saturday night’s match, Canterbury enjoyed just two tackles in the Roosters’ 20.
The pitch invader was removed from the pitch by Industree Group Stadium security
The Roosters moved into the top four after their win over the Bulldogs
“We probably missed an opportunity there to move up the standings a little bit, but I’m incredibly proud of how brave and how much effort they put into it,” Bulldogs coach Cameron Ciraldo said.
“(But) we obviously didn’t play as well under the conditions as they did.”