Five hurt as league fans spark mass pitch brawl

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At least five people were injured when angry rugby league supporters stormed the field after their team was beaten and started an all-in brawl with opposition players.

The fight erupted as the premier Glenfield rugby league team scored the final try against Mt Wellington at Thompson Park in Mt Wellington on Saturday afternoon.

One person was taken to hospital with concussion, and two complaints have been laid with police against three Mt Wellington players.

Rex Hunia, who was watching the match, said he saw one of the Glenfield players king-hit from behind by a Mt Wellington player.

"The guy kept repeatedly stamping on his head, so I set off and went out there and tried to intervene," he said.

"We got the guy off him and picked him off the ground, then the guys from Mt Wellington attacked us from behind.

"It was as close to a prison riot as you would ever see on a football field, only without the jail bars."

The match was important for both teams because the winner qualified for the semifinals this weekend.

Mr Hunia, 39, said the brawl appeared to have started because Mt Wellington players were angry that Glenfield won 32-2.

He said some Mt Wellington players chased the referee off the field after he awarded Glenfield the final try.

"Then some of the Glenfield guys surrounded the ref so he wouldn't get hurt, then those players just started getting attacked."

Mr Hunia was beaten to the ground. His ribs were bruised and one hand was injured.

He also saw a man in his late 60s knocked to the ground.

The player who was knocked unconscious told the Herald he was hit from behind.

"As I was being picked up after being knocked out from the first punch, just as I was getting to my knees, a guy came over and punched me in the face again," said the player who did not want to be named.

"Then a couple of other guys came and started beating me down again and knocked me out again."

His nose was broken in two places and he was concussed. He spent five hours in Auckland Hospital undergoing tests.

He was to have played in the semifinal this weekend, but now faces nine weeks of recovery. He and Mr Hunia have laid complaints with the police.

Another Glenfield player needed 15 stitches.

Auckland Rugby League general manager Pat Carthy said the incident was being investigated. He wanted to make it clear that the brawl broke out after the game and the match was not called off.

"We have been working with both clubs presently to identify the players. Certainly there was no referees report because it was post-game and he had left the ground .

"We're just waiting for the final reports from Glenfield and some counter reports from Mt Wellington. We've got some reports from people who were there."

The matter would go before an independent judiciary on Monday night, and a decision would be made on whether any action should be taken against any of the players involved.

The ARL was taking the matter "very, very seriously".