AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND - OCTOBER 20: Fans showing support during the International Test match between Tonga and Australia at Mount Smart Stadium on October 20, 2018 in Auckland, New Zealand. (Photo by Anthony Au-Yeung/Getty Images)

The NRL will launch an investigation into an alleged racist comment made by someone who is believed to be a staff member at last Saturday's Test match between Tonga and Australia in Auckland.

The comment was allegedly made to the DJ for the evenings event,  Alfred ‘Algoodie’ Aholelei, who took to his Facebook page on Monday to shed some light on the incident in a detailed description.

Aholelei professed a person wearing what was an NRL polo shirt was with him in the production room where he was to play music to engage the crowd before the game, and after every try was scored.

He said the person was claiming the outnumbered Australian fans in the crowd would need security and protection if the Kangaroos were to get up, with the situation escalating further at half-time.

"Dance cam" is a popular segment ran at majority of NRL games, with this begin no exception as it was scheduled to provide entertainment during the half time break.

It was shown on the screens within the production room, and Aholelei alleges the person said "dance, monkey, dance".

In a Facebook post which has now been shared more than 3,000 times, Aholelei states the following:

“An official with an NRL polo shirt was in the production room at the time was standing behind me staring at the big screens with a big smile on his face and then shouted these exact words ‘dance monkey dance’,” Aholelei said.

“My ears, my mind and my heart could not ignore the ignorance any more and I turned to this man and said, “Did you just say, Dance Monkey Dance”? Really?… It was a quick verbal shove that I put on this guy, but it was enough to let him know that what he said wasn’t “OK”.

“In that tense moment, this guy knew what damage he had done and quickly moved away, he tried to come back to apologise, but, I shrugged my shoulders away from him and whipped my headphones back on as a sign to say “Go away, I’m working” (the gangsta remix was running through my head though).

“In three words this guy reduced my people to an animal that in some countries suffer cruel acts of abuse by being chained up, physically harmed and being told to “dance”.

“My people just gifted the world a beautiful vision of love, passion and song, something that has never really seen here or in Australia before and he calls us monkey’s (sic)? In that moment, I was ready to walk out of that production room and forfeit the second half of that game which would’ve meant no Tongan music.”

Foxsports.com.au can confirm the NRL have already launched an investigation regarding the incident.

A spokesperson for the NRL had this to say on the matter:

“The NRL takes the allegation very seriously and is investigating the circumstances,” a spokesperson said.

“We have spoken with the relevant parties and are working through a process.”

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