JASON AVEDISSIAN
Manly Daily
01mar05
FIJI have been banned for life from the Valley United Eights after four players were sent off for fighting in an ugly final at Harbord Park on Saturday.
In a spiteful finale to a successful innovation, two Fiji A players were sent off and two were sin-binned for fighting and foul play.
One player even attempted to re-enter the field after another spiteful incident broke out.
Organisers said the Fijians fielded an illegal player in a pool victory and were subsequently stripped of their points with the player banned from the remainder of the inaugural event.
Fiji A won the final 10-8 over Valley United with just six players.
Eights organiser Peter Kelly said his committee has banned Fiji from future tourna ments.
``The record books will show that Fiji A won the inaugural V8's, but I have to say it will be the last time,'' Kelly said.
``A number of spectators commented after the final that they were disgusted at the way Fiji A played.
``A complaint was made to myself by Tugun after their defeat in the quarter-finals, also complaining about foul play.
``The type of rugby league that Fiji A played in the final was not in the spirit of the game.''
Fiji A assistant manager Phil Brown admitted one of his players had a ``brain explosion'' and deserved to be sin-binned.
``He made a hit-up, got tackled and threw the ball at him (Valley defender),'' Brown said.
``It was very unsportsmanlike.
``But, I think it's unfair to label the Fijians dirty. Everyone wants to see the Fijian flair, I wished it was the same at Valley, but it didn't turn out that way.''
Brown said he will endeavour to discuss the matter with Kelly.
``Hopefully we can work something out,'' Brown said.
A Valley United player said the Fijians' game plan revolved around their fists.
`They just wanted to fight the whole time,'' he said.
The Fijians, who had Test players in their line-up, pocketed $4000 in prizemoney.
Manly Daily
01mar05
FIJI have been banned for life from the Valley United Eights after four players were sent off for fighting in an ugly final at Harbord Park on Saturday.
In a spiteful finale to a successful innovation, two Fiji A players were sent off and two were sin-binned for fighting and foul play.
One player even attempted to re-enter the field after another spiteful incident broke out.
Organisers said the Fijians fielded an illegal player in a pool victory and were subsequently stripped of their points with the player banned from the remainder of the inaugural event.
Fiji A won the final 10-8 over Valley United with just six players.
Eights organiser Peter Kelly said his committee has banned Fiji from future tourna ments.
``The record books will show that Fiji A won the inaugural V8's, but I have to say it will be the last time,'' Kelly said.
``A number of spectators commented after the final that they were disgusted at the way Fiji A played.
``A complaint was made to myself by Tugun after their defeat in the quarter-finals, also complaining about foul play.
``The type of rugby league that Fiji A played in the final was not in the spirit of the game.''
Fiji A assistant manager Phil Brown admitted one of his players had a ``brain explosion'' and deserved to be sin-binned.
``He made a hit-up, got tackled and threw the ball at him (Valley defender),'' Brown said.
``It was very unsportsmanlike.
``But, I think it's unfair to label the Fijians dirty. Everyone wants to see the Fijian flair, I wished it was the same at Valley, but it didn't turn out that way.''
Brown said he will endeavour to discuss the matter with Kelly.
``Hopefully we can work something out,'' Brown said.
A Valley United player said the Fijians' game plan revolved around their fists.
`They just wanted to fight the whole time,'' he said.
The Fijians, who had Test players in their line-up, pocketed $4000 in prizemoney.
