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QRL may adopt booze bans for young guns

5th February, 2016
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Booze bans may be considered for future Emerging Origin camps, Queensland Rugby League managing director Robert Moore admits.

But Moore was adamant players must start taking responsibility for their actions in the wake of a weekend camp debacle that led to a total of eight rising stars copping 12-month Origin bans.

Brisbane’s Ben Hunt, Anthony Milford and Jarrod Wallace, Canberra’s Edrick Lee, South Sydney’s Chris Grevsmuhl and Sydney Roosters prop Dylan Napa were hit with suspensions on Friday for breaking camp curfew.

Cronulla’s Valentine Holmes and Melbourne’s Cameron Munster had already been suspended for ignoring new coach Kevin Walters’ orders and leaving camp to go out drinking on Saturday night.

Holmes sparked the controversy when news emerged that he had been fined by Queensland Police for public nuisance and obstructing police in the early hours of Sunday morning.

Banning almost half of the 20 rising stars who attended the camp is a nightmare start to Walters’ reign and a body blow to Queensland’s title defence hopes.

Moore admitted something had to change in the wake of the debacle.

Asked if they would outlaw alcohol at future camps, Moore said: “This program like any other gets reviewed on an annual basis.”

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Walters said booze bans would be “something for further discussion”.

But Moore said the buck must stop with the players.

“You have to remember we are dealing with adults, not 15-year-old kids here,” he said.

“And you expect a level of responsibility from those adults – to do what they did was not acceptable.”

Walters added: “We have to be responsible for everything that we do and if you can’t be responsible then you don’t drink.”

Walters said guilty players were good enough to put their hands up when asked if they broke curfew.

And he said he would not hold an Origin grudge against the banned eight in future.

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But he made it clear they faced a long 12 month road to redemption.
“They were remorseful, but you can’t turn back,” he said.

“We’ve had a good chat. They are certainly aware of the situation they are in now.

“They just have to knuckle down, play some good football and continue to work hard at their respective clubs.”

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