The NRL may be rethinking its decision to allow fans to create their own cardboard cut-outs to sit in empty stands.
The ‘Fan In The Stand’ initiative was first announced last week, allowing fans to upload a photo of themselves supporting their favourite team, which will then be placed in one of the stadiums for the television broadcast.
As might have been expected, NRL fans have been having plenty of fun with the initiative, despite the $22 price tag that comes with the cardboard cut-outs.
The mischief started relatively innocently on Friday night, when Herald journo Matt Bungard revealed he had managed to sneak an image of his dog into the ground.
My dog was just on national TV. Best $22 I've ever spent #NRLRoostersSouths pic.twitter.com/YaKXNWdATX
— Matt Bungard (@TheMattBungard) May 29, 2020
However, things soon took a dark turn.
During yesterday’s Penrith vs Newcastle game, one social media user spotted a cut-out of notorious British serial killer Harold Shipman.
Watching the Penrith / Newcastle NRL game (absolute cracker btw). Who put Harold Shipman in the crown?😂😂 pic.twitter.com/mZ78UdCCIL
— (C)hristie W 🇺🇦 (@FFSChristie) May 31, 2020
While some applauded the cheek of the prank, others labelled it insensitive.
“A killer of hundreds whose relatives still mourn their loss , lack of empathy on their part,” said one Twitter user.
Shipman wasn’t the only infamous British character to make it onto the NRL’s broadcast.
British political strategist Dominic Cummings – who has recently been in the news for breaking lockdown rules – was also spotted watching a match.
https://twitter.com/samkrowlett/status/1266311877895823361
