Canterbury Bulldogs coach Des Hasler was forced to make an official apology on behalf of the club after several fans were escorted from ANZ Stadium for throwing bottles at the match officials.
Hasler made the apology at the press conference just moments after fans expressed their anger over the penalty decision that cost their side victory against South Sydney on Friday afternoon.
"I just want to offer an apology on behalf of the club," Hasler said. "I've been to see the refereeing official who was I think struck by a projectile – he's ok but that is not us, that is not what this club is about and it's not what sport in this country is about. Unfortunately the behaviour of a few can kind of ruin it and spoil it for everybody.
"I know there is going to be comment, I know there will be a lot of social comment but you people with the pen need to be also responsible in the way you write about it and the way you report on it. Again that is not what this club is about and again on behalf of all the officials and the players and everybody involved with the club, our sincerest apologies for what appeared and it won't happen again."
Bulldogs chief executive Raelene Castle, who was in the club's supporter group at the time, said the club wouldn't stand for such behaviour and would inspect footage to determine the culprits and hand out punishments.
"If we can get enough CCTV footage ... All I could see was bottles coming," Castle said. "I didn't see who it was. If I can work out who it is, absolutely we will deal with them very harshly, as harshly as we can. It's unacceptable."
She lauded the actions of those fans who stood up to the hooligans. "You have a whole lot of people having a great time, being really passionate and enjoying themselves. When anyone got out of hand they were turning around and saying to those people 'please sit down, don't be ridiculous, don't throw things that's outrageous behaviour'. Our own fans were calling them out and that's a real positive."
Former Bulldogs boss turned NRL head of football Todd Greenberg said: "I know this club better than most from having worked here, this club has done a great job over a long time to make sure the behaviour of their fans is very good. This was an incident that was emotional at the end of the game. This club has done a lot in this regard."