NRL security guard under fire over ugly incident with pitch invader

The Gold Coast Titans are reportedly reviewing their security provider after an incident involving a topless pitch invader at Cbus Stadium on Saturday night.

The female spectator was taken down in a brutal tackle by a security guard after running onto the field during the Titans' clash with the Parramatta Eels.

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Video of the incident has gone viral on social media, with many labelling the security guard's actions as heavy-handed.

The Titans have since confirmed that they are looking into the incident.

“The Titans are working with Cbus Super Stadium and their security provider to get a full understanding of the incident and we will have a report from the venue in coming days,” the club told Channel 7.

Titans chairman Dennis Watt earlier said the tackle put the woman at serious risk of injury.

“There needs to be a review of what happened,” Watt told News Corp.

“From where I was sitting it did seem heavy-handed. It could have been handled better.

“You heard this collective intake of breath around the ground.

“It did seem over the top and it put the intruder at real physical risk.

“In general security does a very good job protecting fans and the players.

“The people who run the ground do a fantastic job.

“However on this occasion the fan could have been contained more easily than that without the risk of injury.”

While Fox Sports didn't show the incident live, cameras picked up Mitchell Moses reacting with astonishment to the brutal hit.

The Eels halfback could be since wincing after witnessing the hit, before smiling and sharing a joke with referee Peter Gough.

Bulldogs supremo Phil Gould tweeted: "Tackle. Although bunker is reviewing for possible dangerous throw.

"Could be on report and sin bin. Then charged. Then fined.”

However former Eels player Eric Groth Jr was among the many to condemn the security guard.

“I reckon this bloke didn’t have to do this,” Groth wrote on Twitter.

“He’ll claim ‘It could’ve been a terrorist threat’ but deep down I reckon he wanted the attention that comes with whacking a streaker on national tv.

“She could’ve been disarmed with less force. Her fault, but way too hard.”

For her part, the woman has since defended the security guard, saying she "got what she deserved" for being on the field.

Captain's challenge controversy mars Eels victory

The Eels held off a fast-finishing Titans side to secure a 26-20 win, but only after the hosts used an apparent loophole in the captain's challenge system to their advantage.

The Titans twice deliberately conceded penalties to halt play and use their captain's challenge successfully.

On both occasions the challenges were upheld and the Titans would go on to score tries in the resulting sets.

"It was a bit weird. I was asking because I remember watching the game last week and the ref said to the captain, you can only challenge that last play - the penalty - not the play before which could be a knock-on, might be something else," Eels captain Clint Gutherson said.

"Obviously it happened twice and pretty crucial, they scored off the back of both of them.

"It's obviously pretty inconsistent."

Gough's decision to allow both challenges seemed to contradict comments made by NRL head of football Graham Annesley at his weekly media briefing last Monday.

"A team can't try to create a stoppage in order to challenge something that has previously been missed," Annesley said.

"Some people will say it doesn't matter as long as we get the right decision in the end but there has to be some parameters, otherwise we would have stoppages to play all the time.

"Once they think they get a decision changed, they would just be coached to give away a penalty so they can go back and challenge the original decision."

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