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.”