Melbourne Storm chief executive Brian Waldron has launched an attack on the people of Sydney after suspended captain Cameron Smith was booed by fans at yesterday’s NRL grand final.
Smith – was banned for two weeks for a grapple tackle, ruling him out of Melbourne’s 40-0 loss to Manly yesterday – was subjected to boos from the crowd when his face was shown on ANZ Stadium’s big screen.
Waldron, who along with coach Craig Bellamy is facing legal action over comments made against the NRL judiciary after Smith was suspended, described the crowd’s actions as “a disgrace”.
“When Cameron Smith’s face came up on the screen last night, 80,000 people… 60,000 people booed him,” Waldron told SEN radio.
“I think if any insults are to be thrown, they should be thrown they should be thrown at the people of Sydney, because that was an absolute disgrace.
“To do that do a player that’s the Australian captain, whether it’s in jest, whether they’re full of drink, I don’t know what it is.
“I was disgusted in the crowd last night to do that to the Australian captain and they need to be told – I think (NRL boss) David Gallop should come out and make a statement about what a disgrace it is to treat the Australian captain like that.”
Gallop has appeared on Ray Hadley’s 2GB morning program today, but did not take Waldron up on his suggestion to berate yesterday’s grand final crowd, saying he cannot control 80,000 people.
