South Sydney’s opening NRL Pre-Season Challenge clash against Manly has been delayed as a fan required medical attention at Industree Group Stadium before kick-off.
The trial match in Gosford was originally scheduled to start at 3:30pm AEDT but had to be postponed as a paramedic attended to a fan, who suffered a heart attack in the stands.
“It’s very sad and tragic,” Mal Meninga said on Fox League. “I’ve been around rugby league for a long time and I’ve never experienced anything like this.”
NRL trial match delayed as fan suffers heart attack
“Highly unsual scenes here,” James Hooper reported from the ground.
“A member of the crowd has had a heart attack and that means that the individual paramedic, who was rostered on to work at this game, has been called into action.
“They’ve actually had to leave the scene, so the NRL has then put a call out for anybody in the crowd who has the necessary credentials and qualifications to bring themselves forward.
“The NRL are now verifiying that the person is who they say they are and they can act as the new independent paramedic. If we get through all of that, then we could finally get the footy on.”
This has gone right to the top with Peter V’landys and Andrew Abdo being involved in these discussions,” Hooper revealed later in the afternnon as the threat of the game being cancelled loomed.
“Behind the scenes, South Sydney and Manly absolutely want this game on… they see it as crtical to their pre-season preparation so they’re putting all sorts of pressure on the NRL.”
After a 90 minute delay, the players emerged from the tunnel and were put through their paces again as they geared up to start.
The game against the Sea Eagles on the Central Coast marked the beginning of Wayne Bennett’s second reign at the Rabbitohs.
The master coach signed a three-year deal to return to Redfern after previously guiding the club to the grand final in 2021.
Bennett left after the loss in the decider to Penrith as part of a succession plan involving Jason Demetriou, while he went to Queensland to take control of the Dolphins during their inception into the NRL.
