NRL and clubs need to end toxic online abuse of players, says Gould

April 26, 2026 — 5:00am

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Bulldogs general manager Phil Gould says the NRL and clubs need to join forces to ban fans and members from games who are using social media to vilify and defame players.

Gould is sick of so-called supporters using platforms such as Instagram to attack players and go on rants that are clearly breaking the laws of defamation. He has seen the impact it has on players at his club and has had feedback from rivals about the rise of supporters who rant to their followers about players who they think are not delivering on the field.

“One of the most toxic things in the game of rugby league today is this growing trend of ‘fans’ venting their fury on social media platforms every time their team loses a game,” Gould said.

“These so-called fans record a video of themselves delivering a full-throated abusive message, which directly abuses coaches, club officials and players. These vitriolic social media posts are not only abusive, they are expletive-laden, threatening, defaming rants designed to intimidate and destabilise.

“The worst thing about these rants is that they actually attract an audience.

“Most clubs have them. It’s been particularly evident in recent times with the Dragons and their recent run of losses.

“Fans having an opinion and freedom of speech is understood. Abuse, intimidation, threats and defamation are surely not acceptable.

“The NRL and clubs need to take a stand. Withdrawing memberships, season tickets, banning them from attending live games should be a bare minimum.”

These pages exist from fanbases throughout the league. They feature supporters yelling at their followers, giving scathing take-downs of players in rants that are highly offensive and defamatory.

Fans making their own content by baiting players is also a troubling development. We saw Parramatta fans daring Tigers players to fight them at a recent game. They were filming the players and gesturing to them hoping to get them to react.

Something similar happened to Panthers coach Ivan Cleary after a game when a fan started........

© The Sydney Morning Herald