National Rugby League side Canterbury Bulldogs' return to Belmore "will feature extra bag checks and an increase in customer service personnel on the ground" to ensure the fixture will not "be marred by scenes similar to that when an unruly fan threw a glass bottle in the vicinity of players earlier this year," according to Adam Pengilly of the SYDNEY MORNING HERALD. Fans will be subject to "more stringent examination of items they wish to take into the ground and there will be tighter controls on ticketed seating for the emotion-charged clash against the North Queensland Cowboys on Thursday night." The previous incident involved a bottle smashed on an exercise bike only meters away from interchange players "before the culprit fled into the night outside the ground, which is not fitted with CCTV cameras." But Canterbury has "gone to extra lengths" to ensure its second and last match at its home for the year "passes without off-field incident." Bulldogs CEO Raelene Castle said, "We need to be cognizant that we had 16,000 people here [for the Canberra match] and we had one person who was an idiot." Castle is "confident Belmore remains an important part of the club's future." She said, "We think that two games at Belmore is the right mix for the historical significance of what the ground means to our members and fans" (SMH, 8/22).
