NRL chief executive David Gallop said he had no reason to doubt the validity of Brisbane’s emphatic denial that one of their players had a drug problem.
Brisbane boss Bruno Cullen on Monday hit out at allegations the Broncos were covering up a drugs issue involving one of their high profile players, Cullen threatening legal action over what he claimed was “scurrilous” accusations.
Gallop said the NRL had no evidence of any Broncos player testing positive to drugs, but warned of dire consequences should Brisbane or any other club attempt to cover up positive tests.
“Clearly, like anything else, if there are lies being told then the consequences may be more severe,” Gallop said.
“The Broncos have obviously come out fairly emphatically about some of the allegations.
“From our point of view it’s important that the policies are adhered to and the policies are ones that provide not only for random testing but also for targeted testing.
“We don’t go into where we are up to in relation to those things unless we get results which lead to us disclosing it under the policy.”
The player with the alleged drug problem was not named publicly in Monday’s Daily Telegraph report, but Cullen said the player in question had been tested a number of times over a long period with the club.
Gallop admitted unsubstantiated allegations did have the ability to harm the reputation of the club and players.
“Any situation where allegations are made against specific players where it turns out to be unfounded, it’s a matter for concern, and I’ve noted the Broncos emphatic denials yesterday,” Gallop said.
Gallop was at Redfern Community Centre on Tuesday to announce next week’s round 23 of the NRL would be used to promote the Close the Gap campaign, which is aimed at improving the life expectancy and health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
The Bulldogs and North Queensland will play in the Reconciliation Cup in Townsville next Friday night to kick off a round of Indigenous celebrations.
Teams named on Tuesday for round 22 of the NRL (all times AEST):
FRIDAY
MELBOURNE v NORTH QUEENSLAND at Olympic Park, 7.35pm
STORM: Billy Slater, Steve Turner, Will Chambers, Greg Inglis, Joseph Tomane, Brett Finch, Cooper Cronk, Scott Anderson, Cam Smith (capt), Brett White, Matt Cross, Ryan Hoffman, Dallas Johnson. Interchange: Ryan Hinchcliffe, Adam Blair, Aiden Tolman, Jeff Lima.COWBOYS: Matthew Bowen, Michael Bani, Ty Williams, Willie Tonga, John Williams, Grant Rovelli, Johnathan Thurston (capt), Shane Tronc, Anthony Watts, Matthew Scott, Carl Webb, Scott Bolton, Steve Southern. Interchange: Travis Burns, Steve Rapira, Antonio Kaufusi, James Tamou, Manase Manuokafoa (one to be omitted).
Referees: Tony Archer, Gerard SuttonPENRITH v ST GEORGE ILLAWARRA at CUA Stadium, 7:35pm
PANTHERS: Jarrod Sammut, Shane Elford, Michael Jennings, Brad Tighe, Michael Gordon, Wade Graham, Luke Walsh, Frank Puletua, Paul Aiton, Matthew Bell, Trent Waterhouse, Gavin Cooper, Nathan Smith. Interchange: Frank Pritchard, Joseph Paulo, Maurice Blair, Tim Grant, Adam Woolnough, Luke Lewis (two to be omitted).DRAGONS: Darius Boyd, Brett Morris, Beau Scott, Chase Stanley, Wendell Sailor, Jamie Soward, Ben Hornby (capt), Justin Poore, Nathan Fien, Michael Weyman, Dean Young, Ben Creagh, Neville Costigan. Interchange: Dan Hunt, Matt Prior, Matt Cooper, Jarrod Saffy, Jeremy Smith, Jon Green (two to be omitted)
Referees: Gavin Badger, Ashley KleinSATURDAY
MANLY v SOUTH SYDNEY at Brookvale Oval, 5:30pm
SEA EAGLES: Michael Robertson, Tony Williams, Ben Farrar, Steve Matai, David Williams, Jamie Lyon, Matt Orford (capt), Jason King, Matt Ballin, Josh Perry, Anthony Watmough, Glenn Hall, Glenn Stewart. Interchange: Chris Bailey, Brent Kite, George Rose, Shane Rodney, Heath L’Estrange (one to be omitted).RABBITOHS: Nathan Merritt, Jamie Simpson, Colin Best, Beau Champion, Fetuli Talanoa, John Sutton, Chris Sandow, Luke Stuart, Issac Luke, Roy Asotasi (capt), Ben Lowe, Eddy Pettybourne, David Faalogo. Interchange: Craig Wing, Shannan McPherson, Michael Crocker, Scott Geddes, Dave Tyrrell (one to be omitted).
Referees: Ben Cummins, Brett SuttorBULLDOGS v CANBERRA at ANZ Stadium, 7:30pm
BULLDOGS: Luke Patten, Hazem El Masri, Josh Morris, Jamal Idris, Bryson Goodwin, Ben Roberts, Brett Kimmorley, Ben Hannant, Michael Ennis, Michael Hodgson, Gary Warburton, Andrew Ryan (capt), David Stagg. Interchange: Jarrad Hickey, Chris Armit, Greg Eastwood, Yileen Gordon
RAIDERS: Josh Dugan, Daniel Vidot, Jarrod Croker, Joel Monaghan, Phil Graham, Terry Campese, Josh McCrone, Dane Tilse, Alan Tongue (capt), Scott Logan, Glen Turner, Bronson Harrison, Josh Miller. Interchange: Joel Thompson, Travis Waddell, Troy Thompson, Trevor Thurling, Shaun Fensom (one to be omitted)
Referees: Jared Maxwell, Bernard SuttonSUNDAY
WARRIORS v GOLD COAST at Mt Smart Stadium, 12pm
WARRIORS: Kevin Locke, Patrick Ah Van, Elijah Taylor, Joel Moon, Manu Vatuvei, Aaron Heremaia, Stacey Jones, Sam Rapira, Lewis Brown, Russell Packer, Simon Mannering, Ben Matulino, Micheal Luck (capt). Interchange: Lance Hohaia, Evarn Tuimavave, Jacob Lillyman, Ukuma Ta’aiTITANS: William Zillman, Kevin Gordon, Mat Rogers, Jordan Atkins, David Mead, Preston Campbell, Scott Prince (capt), Luke Bailey (capt), Nathan Friend, Michael Henderson, Anthony Laffranchi, Mark Minichiello, Josh Graham. Interchange: Aaron Cannings, Matthew White, Brad Myers, Chris Walker, Will Matthews (one to be omitted)
Referees: Steve Lyons, Alan ShortallSYDNEY ROOSTERS v WESTS TIGERS at SFS, 2pm
ROOSTERS: Sam Perrett, Iwi Hauraki, Mitchell Aubusson, Setaimata Sa, Shaun Kenny-Dowall, Anthony Minichiello, Mitchell Pearce, Frank-Paul Nuuausala, Jake Friend, Lopini Paea, Sia Soliola, Willie Mason, Craig Fitzgibbon (capt). Interchange: Stanley Waqa, Shane Shackleton, Riley Brown, Ben Jones, Nick Kouparitsas (one to be omitted)TIGERS: Shannon Gallant, Taniela Tuiaki, Blake Ayshford, Chris Lawrence, Beau Ryan, Benji Marshall, Tim Moltzen, Bryce Gibbs, Robbie Farah (capt), Todd Payten, Gareth Ellis, Danny Galea, Corey Payne. Interchange: John Morris, Chris Heighington, Keith Galloway, John Skandalis, Dean Collis (one to be omitted).
Referees: Gavin Badger, Tony De Las HerasPARRAMATTA v NEWCASTLE at Parramatta Stadium, 3pm
EELS: Jarryd Hayne, Luke Burt, Krisnan Inu, Joel Reddy, Eric Grothe, Daniel Mortimer, Jeff Robson, Nathan Cayless (capt), Matthew Keating, Fuifui Moimoi, Nathan Hindmarsh, Joe Galuvao, Todd Lowrie. Interchange: Kevin Kingston, Broderick Wright, Ben Smith, Tim Mannah.KNIGHTS: Kurt Gidley (capt), Keith Lulia, Junior Sau, Adam MacDougall, Akulia Uate, Ben Rogers, Jarrod Mullen, Danny Wicks, Isaac DeGois, Richie Fa’aoso, Steve Simpson, Zeb Taia, Matt Hilder. Interchange: Wes Naiqama, Marvin Karawana, Mark Taufua, Cory Paterson, Shannon McDonnell (one to be omitted).
Referees: Shayne Hayne, Matt CecchinMONDAY
BRISBANE v CRONULLA at Suncorp Stadium, 7pm
BRONCOS: Karmichael Hunt, Antonio Winterstein, Alex Glenn, Justin Hodges, Jharal Yow Yeh, Darren Lockyer (capt), Peter Wallace, Nick Kenny, Andrew McCullough, David Taylor, Tonie Carroll, Sam Thaiday, Corey Parker. Interchange: Lagi Setu, Ben Teo, Josh McGuire, Ashton Sims, Josh Hoffman (one to be omitted)SHARKS: Bronx Goodwin, Misi Taulapapa, Ben Pomeroy, Mitch Brown, Luke Covell (capt), Matt Wright, Scott Porter, Kade Snowden, Corey Hughes, Luke Douglas, Jak Afamasaga, Grant Millington, Paul Gallen. Interchange: Ian Donnelly, Bryan Norrie, Nathan Stapelton, Terence Seu Seu.
Referees: Ben Cummins, Phil Haines
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