The Canberra Raiders have sounded the final siren on crowd participation in half-time entertainment after a series of lawsuits by fans claiming they were hurt taking part in half-time games.
The move which is being followed by other NRL clubs comes after the third lawsuit against the club by a person claiming to have been injured during half-time entertainment has gone to the ACT Supreme Court.
Lawyers for former Olympic volleyballer Selina Scoble have lodged papers in the ACT Supreme Court claiming their client suffered lasting injuries while throwing a rugby league ball during a celebrity match-day challenge at Canberra Stadium nine years ago. The documents allege that Ms Scoble's injuries curtailed a lucrative overseas volleyball career and are seeking unspecified damages, claiming the Raiders had a duty of care to teach the then AIS sportswoman how to throw a rugby ball.
Ms Scoble played volleyball for Australia at the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games, less than three months after allegedly sustaining the lasting injuries.
In another lawsuit, a Raiders fan is suing the club for injuries he suffered during a half-time competition at Canberra Stadium three years ago.
Jason Cooper is suing the club after he allegedly hurt himself in a competition to use a milk crate to catch as many balls, kicked by troubled former Raider Bronx Goodwin, as possible.
Mr Cooper said he dived to catch one of the balls in the milk crate and knocked himself unconscious and sustained spinal injuries that have prevented him from working as a tiler.
He also says he has suffered depression.
His claim alleges that he received no instruction about how to play the game safely, and the incentive of a Canberra Milk prize pack for the winner encouraged diving.
In recent months his two daughters, who witnessed the alleged accident, have put in compensation claims against the club joined by Mr Cooper’s partner, who was not present at the game.
The partner and daughter all claim to be suffering adjustment disorder, depressed mood and mixed anxiety as a result of Mr Cooper’s injuries.
The Canberra Times understands that another man is pursuing the club for compensation, claiming he suffered whiplash injuries after running into a giant rubber ball at another half-time entertainment event.
Now the Raiders chiefs have decided that they can no longer afford the exposure of public participation in match-day entertainment. ‘‘We certainly have tapered down our half-time entertainment, we’ve done so after talking to our insurer,’’ chief executive Don Furner said.
‘‘Crowd participation in halftime entertainment is pretty much a no-go any more for us and we’ve spoken to a lot of the other NRL clubs and they’re in a similar position.’’
Mr Furner said the move reflected the trend towards a more litigious society and was regrettable.
‘‘It’s sad and it’s difficult because you have to entertain the crowd and a lot of people loved the crowd competitions,’’ he said. ‘‘I get a lot of letters from people who want the half-time entertainment or the pre-game entertainment.
‘‘Unfortunately we just can’t put ourselves in that position any more, unless it’s two people getting on the field and answering a quiz question or doing something interactive with the big screen.
‘‘But a catch-in-the-crowd competition or anything like that is just out.’’
Email a friend