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Former Canberra Raiders star Mark McLinden has been revealed as the pitch invader who disrupted Sunday’s NRL Grand Final.
The Sydney Morning Herald has broken the news that the 43-year-old former Dally M Rookie of the Year was the pitch invader who ran onto the field early in the second half at Accor Stadium as part of a protest designed to raise awareness of environmental issues.
He stripped the padding from one of the goalposts and ran away from security guards before he was eventually rounded up and escorted from the arena.
McLinden, who lives in Mullumbimby in the Byron hinterland, was wearing a shirt that read “end coal, gas & oil” on the front with “for our kids” on the back.
The play was down the other end of the field when the incident occurred and the referee did not need to call a halt to proceedings.
Former Raiders star Mark McLinden was the pitch invader who disrupted the NRL Grand Final. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
Parramatta were on the attack at the time during their 28-12 loss to back-to-back premiers Penrith.
McLinden, who now has a beard and long hair, was wearing football boots for his return to a ground he played on many times in the NRL.
NSW Police arrested him and issued him with an infringement notice which carries a $5000 fine for entering the playing field. He has also been banned from attending matches at the venue.
“A 43-year-old man from Mullumbimby was arrested after he allegedly entered the southern end of the playing field and dragged one of the pads from the goal post,” a NSW police spokesperson said.
“He was removed from the field by security before being arrested by police.
“He has been issued with an infringement notice for entering a competition playing field.”
Mark McLinden during his playing days at Canberra in 2001. (Photo: Scott Barbour/ALLSPORT)
He posted a lengthy message on Facebook just before he entered the field on Grand Final night.
“The world’s climate scientists have concluded that the continuing burning of coal, gas and oil is causing catastrophic ecosystem loss and climate change.
“As a result, the stable climate that humans have enjoyed for the last 10,000 years is becoming unstable before our eyes.
“The floods, fires, heatwaves and droughts will only get worse unless we stand up against the fossil fuel industry and demand that they pay for the carbon they emit. In addition, they must phase out its use to be replaced with renewable energy far quicker than governments have allowed.
“Climate Scientists are turning to activism due to the lack of action from governments.
“I stand for science. I stand with scientists, and have joined them in activism.
“I encourage you to do the same.
“Our kids and grandkids are relying on it.”
McLinden also released a song in the lead-up to the 2022 federal election, pushing for people to vote for candidates he claimed were “climate champions”.
He burst onto the scene with the Raiders in 1998 and won the Dally M Rookie of the Year award before going on to play 165 matches at Canberra over the course of seven seasons.
The talented playmaker then spent four seasons in the Super League with the London Harlequins before trying his hand at rugby union, representing the Queensland Reds briefly in the Super Rugby competition before retiring more than a decade ago.
There was a pitch invader a week earlier at the AFL Grand Final with a man dragged off the field at the MCG after running on while wearing a shirt asking for KFC to bring back krusher drinks of all things.
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