They suffered injuries including concussion, bruises and broken bones, and the blame game has begun after earlier plans to overhaul the stadium were shelved.
The incident unfolded in front of a 15,000 strong crowd, there to watch the between Saint Ignatius’ College Riverview and St Joseph’s College.
Caught in the pile up was 19-year-old Joseph Cant and graduates from St Joey’s class of 2021.
“I was at the front to the right. Zoom into the video and you’d see my legs flick up,” he said.
“There were people landing on top of each other.”
Joseph’s mum, Ali, said one of Joe’s friends broke his shoulder blade and there were some boys who were concussed.
The carnage has been seen as vindication for those calling for upgrades to the stadium.
“We’ve been saying for some time that the state of the facility at Leichardt is substandard, it’s third-world, and potentially dangerous, what we saw was the fulfilment of that potential,” Wests Tigers chairman Lee Hagipantelis, said.
This week the state government snubbed the suburban ground for an overhaul, instead diverting $250 million dollars in funding to flood victims.
It continued with a $300 million dollars redevelopment of Panthers Stadium in embattled MP, Stuart Ayres’, marginal Western-Sydney seat.
Council already had plans to upgrade the viewing platform and the amenities block at the end of the NRL season.
NSW Labor environment spokeswoman Penny Sharpe accused the state government of “making promises they clearly can’t keep”.
In a statement, mayor Darcy Byrne said the council was investigating the incident and surrounding safety concerns.
