Latest news with #Manly
Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Health
- Daily Mail
Australia's first openly gay footy star Ian Roberts drops devastating health bombshell as he reveals he has incurable condition
Footy legend Ian Roberts has revealed the sad news that he's been diagnosed with epilepsy as he hit out at a dangerous new trend among footy fans. The former Manly, NSW and Kangaroos enforcer dropped the news as he warned Australians against participating in a social media craze that recently killed a teenager in New Zealand. Roberts slammed the 'run it straight' challenge after shocking videos showed fans colliding heavily with each other in wild scenes after the Sea Eagles' match against Brisbane on Sunday. Roberts dropped his health bombshell when Today show host Karl Stefanovic asked him about the dangers of the craze. 'Repeated head knocks and concussions, like I was saying earlier, the science is already out there. That's damaging long-term,' Roberts said. 'I can honestly say, in the last 12 months I've had a bit of an issue myself. 'I was just recently diagnosed - and I'm not just saying this because we're on air, but it's potentially to do with this - with epilepsy. 'This is all potentially long-term stuff. I reckon the damage I did to myself was not taking the shots [tackles], it was making the shots.' Stefanovic then asked how Roberts is dealing with the diagnosis. 'I'm good mate, I just started a new process of medication, which has really helped. 'But that's what I'm talking about. When you're 19 and 20, young teenage boys, when you're 15, you're never going to be 50, you're never going to be 60, that's too far away. 'But the fact is mate, I'm now 60 this year, and knowing what I know now, my own personal situation, there are things I would've changed about my playing style. 'I would definitely have changed - in 1990, when I made a conscious effort to pull off more big hits to toughen my image up or whatever that is, I certainly wouldn't be doing that.' Roberts added that he would 'absolutely' support a ban on the run it straight craze, which has spawned the professional RunIt competition, which has been held in Melbourne and New Zealand recently and featured former NRL star George Burgess. 'This is long-term, potentially catastrophic consequences for young people,' Roberts said. 'We can't keep ignoring it.' Epilepsy is a condition that affects the brain and leaves patients at risk of seizures. It can be brought on at any age by a stroke, brain infection, head injury or problems at birth that lead to lack of oxygen. But in more than half of cases, a cause is never found. The video Roberts was reacting two showed a series of men charging down a hill over the back of Manly's home ground and being hit by another group of men at the bottom. The run it straight craze involves people charging directly at each other - with one usually holding an NRL or rugby ball - to pull off a footy-style collision. The trend turned deadly last week after New Zealand teenager Ryan Satterthwaite tragically lost his life attempting the challenge. He sustained a serious head injury during an impromptu game with friends and passed away in hospital on May 26. His death has prompted widespread warnings from health experts and authorities about the dangers of the viral trend. One participant in the video taken at Manly was filmed chugging a drink before roaring and charging down the hill, only to be ironed out by another participant wearing a Manly Sea Eagles jersey. The footage has quickly drawn criticism following Satterthwaite's death. 'Glad to see we've learnt from the poor blokes passing in New Zealand last week,' one viewer posted, tongue firmly in cheek. 'Would love to know how many ended up at northern beaches hospital,' posted another. 'Intelligence below the charts,' added another. Despite the obvious dangers, the warnings and the death of Satterthwaite, the video still attracted plenty of attention from people loving the trend. Former rugby league and All Blacks star Sonny Bill Williams recently apologised for posting an Instagram video of one of his hits during his time in the NRL with the caption 'Playing run it straight before it was called run it straight'. 'I put a video up last night, and I just want to ask for forgiveness of the young fulla that passed away,' Williams said on his social media account. 'Please excuse me for my insensitivity. I did not know that had happened. 'I want to talk about it for a second right now. 'I've been asked to collab with the Run it Straight people, or a couple of people and I haven't. 'Simply because I wouldn't put my kids in it. 'I have safety concerns and that's just my thoughts on it.'
7NEWS
2 hours ago
- Sport
- 7NEWS
Fans urged to end Run It Straight trend after ‘appalling' scenes at NRL game
A leading concussion expert has urged NRL fans to bring an end to the 'Run It Straight' trend after vision surfaced from the crowd at a Manly Sea Eagles game over the weekend. The death of a New Zealand teenager last week shone a spotlight on the dangerous activity. But the viral craze has shown no signs of slowing down, with security reportedly stepping in when fans ran at each other on the hill at Brookvale Oval late in Manly's win over Brisbane on Saturday. Sea Eagles chief executive Tony Mestrov has already revealed anyone found to have been involved will be banned. Dr Alan Pearce, who has worked with NRL players on concussions, said he is 'still speechless'. 'I'm pretty appalled by what we're seeing and I'm really concerned about the health of the people undertaking this activity,' he told Sunrise. 'There's no medical attention nearby if something happened.' Pearce said it was made worse by the apparent levels of intoxication. 'Beer and head injuries do not mix,' he said. 'This is what we're seeing now and this is something we've been concerned about surrounding the Run It events. 'Things like this will be happening everywhere now and they're not checked properly. That's the concern.' While some of those filmed participating at the NRL game appeared to be grown men, Pearce said he fears for kids and even young adults involved in the trend. 'The damage to a young brain is potentially profound and catastrophic,' he said. 'With young people, kids up to the age of 20, there's a risk of what we call 'second impact syndrome'. 'Even though you might get a hit to the head and not necessarily think that there's anything going on, having a second hit to the head in a rapid time period after — it might be a few minutes, it could be 15 minutes — could be potentially life-threatening. 'This is something we are really worried about.'
Daily Mail
16 hours ago
- Health
- Daily Mail
Disturbing video shows footy fans taking 'run it straight' craze up a notch just days after it cost teenager his life
Shocking footage has emerged of footy fans taking the lethal 'run it straight' trend to dangerous new levels at an NRL match. The run it straight trend involves people charging directly at each other to mimic a rugby-style collision. It gained popularity on social media with official competitions popping up in Sydney and in New Zealand but has drawn criticism for its dangerous nature. The trend turned deadly last week after New Zealand teenager Ryan Satterthwaite tragically lost his life attempting the challenge. He sustained a serious head injury during an impromptu game with friends and passed away in hospital on May 26. His death has prompted widespread warnings from health experts and authorities about the dangers of this viral trend, but it seems to have fallen on deaf ears at Four Pines Park, formerly known as Brookvale Oval in Manly. During a recent NRL match at the venue, a series of spectators decided to take on the run it straight challenge on the back of the hill. However they decided to ramp up the danger by using the actual hill to speed up the action. One participant was filmed chugging a drink before roaring and charging down the hill, only to be ironed out by another participant wearing a Manly Sea Eagles jersey. The footage has quickly drawn criticism following the death of Satterthwaite in New Zealand. 'Glad to see we've learnt from the poor blokes passing in New Zealand last week,' one viewer posted, tongue firmly in cheek. 'Would love to know how many ended up at northern beaches hospital,' posted another. 'Intelligence below the charts,' added another. Despite the obvious dangers, the warnings and the death of Satterthwaite, the video still attracted plenty of attention from people loving the trend. Events have popped up in Australia and New Zealand with cash prizes on offer, but they have been getting postponed and cancelled in recent weeks 'My son was there. He loved it,' one viewer posted with a series of laughing emojis. 'It's called fun. You need to leave the indoors more,' another fired back at a commentator pointing out Satterthwaite's death. 'I'm not opposed to this,' posted another. It comes after former dual-code footy star Sonny Bill Williams had to walk back comments he made online that appeared to endorse the trend. Williams shared footage from his playing days with the Bulldogs, colliding with Penrith's Joel Clinton with the video captioned 'old school what a hit'. He added: 'Playing run it straight before it was called run it straight.' Williams later apologised after learning about Satterthwaite's death. 'I put a video up last night, and I just want to ask for forgiveness of the young fulla that passed away,' Williams said on his social media account. 'Please excuse me for my insensitivity. I did not know that had happened. 'I want to talk about it for a second right now. 'I've been asked to collab with the Run it Straight people, or a couple of people and I haven't. 'Simply because I wouldn't put my kids in it. 'I have safety concerns and that's just my thoughts on it.' Several 'Run It Straight' events in South Auckland were cancelled due to safety concerns and lack of permits following the teenager's death. The Māngere-Ōtāhuhu Local Board raised concerns over concussion risks and unregulated contact. One event at Williams Park was scrapped after organisers failed to book the venue or seek council approval. Organisers instead held a meet-and-greet at Sylvia Park following the death of Satterthwaite.
Sydney Morning Herald
19 hours ago
- Sport
- Sydney Morning Herald
‘Potentially life-threatening': Manly react to disturbing fan behaviour
Manly have vowed to step up game-day security after footage of fans skolling beer and running into each other at full speed behind the main hill at 4 Pines Park was watched more than 200,000 times on social media. Sea Eagles officials were grateful nobody was seriously hurt, but vowed to crack down on anyone partaking in 'Run It Straight', a growing trend on social media which involves two people running at each other as fast as they can in the hope of them being knocked out, at future home games. Last week, a teenager in New Zealand died after slamming head-on into another person in a backyard. Sources with knowledge of the situation not authorised to speak publicly confirmed there were five 'triple calls' - serious incidents that required an immediate response from security - made in eight minutes approaching full-time. Two incidents involved pitch invaders, while a fight broke out in the same area behind the hill where fans were tackling each other. Around 70 security personnel, including those wearing plain clothes on the hill, and a further 70 event staff were working on Saturday. Sea Eagles CEO Tony Mestrov was unimpressed by the footage and said: 'It's crazy that people will do this type of thing when they know how dangerous and potentially life-threatening it is. 'We will ensure our security is more vigilant in patrolling this outside zone after full-time, at all future home games.
The Age
19 hours ago
- Sport
- The Age
‘Potentially life-threatening': Manly react to disturbing fan behaviour
Manly have vowed to step up game-day security after footage of fans skolling beer and running into each other at full speed behind the main hill at 4 Pines Park was watched more than 200,000 times on social media. Sea Eagles officials were grateful nobody was seriously hurt, but vowed to crack down on anyone partaking in 'Run It Straight', a growing trend on social media which involves two people running at each other as fast as they can in the hope of them being knocked out, at future home games. Last week, a teenager in New Zealand died after slamming head-on into another person in a backyard. Sources with knowledge of the situation not authorised to speak publicly confirmed there were five 'triple calls' - serious incidents that required an immediate response from security - made in eight minutes approaching full-time. Two incidents involved pitch invaders, while a fight broke out in the same area behind the hill where fans were tackling each other. Around 70 security personnel, including those wearing plain clothes on the hill, and a further 70 event staff were working on Saturday. Sea Eagles CEO Tony Mestrov was unimpressed by the footage and said: 'It's crazy that people will do this type of thing when they know how dangerous and potentially life-threatening it is. 'We will ensure our security is more vigilant in patrolling this outside zone after full-time, at all future home games.
