A Waterford Demons Rugby League player has been banned for life and the whole team suspended in the wake of a brawl which marred the division one grand final day.
The penalties were issued by the Greater Brisbane Junior Rugby League (GBJRL) following its investigation into the September incident and handed down by its disciplinary and judiciary tribunal last week.
Topping the disciplinary action was an under-18 Waterford player who was issued a life ban for kicking a Redcliffe player in the head while he lay on the ground.
No charges were handed out to Redcliffe players while every player listed for Waterford in the final have been suspended for 12 months, including Schoolboy Rugby League, trial matches and development squad games.
Four Waterford supporters were set to face charges last Thursday after becoming involved with the fight but failed to appear.
The trial has been rescheduled for next Tuesday and will be conducted in their absence if they fail to appear again while the club faces a $1000 fine if it steps out of line again.
The Redcliffe coach was found guilty of breaching the QRL's code of speaking to the media and issued a 12 month suspended sentence.
GBJRL Operations Manager Shane McNally said the Management Committee took a strong stance to get the message out that violent behaviour will not be tolerated and playing the game was a privilege.
``Even though some of the players punished may believe they have received a harsh penalty the GBJRL has to keep in mind the hundreds of parents who are about to make a decision on what sport their children will play in 2013 and the GBJRL wants rugby league to be high on their list of considerations,'' McNally said.
``By allowing such behaviour as witnessed on Saturday 15 September to go unpunished would send the wrong message to all children and parents.
McNally said the committee was looking at other ways to lessen the chances of incidents reoccurring.
``The structure of the competitions will be considered with the possible introduction of a 'first past the post' style of competition to emphasise 'participation' over the 'win at all costs' attitude that exists in some quarters,'' McNally said.
``The involvement and the effect of 'on field' staff have on the game will be another area up for review as will the conduct of coaching staff at training and on game day.''
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