The NRL has handed down breach notices against four players for “bringing the game into disrepute” after they were found to have breached social distancing regulations.
In a massive blow to the code as they attempt to gain government approval for a restart to the season, Josh Addo-Carr, Latrell Mitchell, Tyronne Roberts-Davis and Nathan Cleary were all revealed on social media over the last few days to have clearly breached social distancing regulations
Addo-Carr’s Instagram revealed he, Mitchell and Roberts-Davis attended a gathering of roughly ten people in Taree on the New South Wales mid-north coast, with Addo-Carr coming under further investigation over a potential firearms offence.
Cleary, meanwhile, was photographed in the company of five women at a residence on Anzac Day.
As a result of the breaches, Addo-Carr and Mitchell have both been fined $50,000 – with 60 per cent of the sum to be suspended for the remainder of the season – while Roberts-Davis and Cleary have been fined $10,000 with the same 60 per cent suspension.
All four players have also been given a one-match ban – again suspended for the remainder of the season.
Mitchell and Addo-Carr were given heavier sanctions as their breach was in relation to an organised holiday, whereas Cleary’s breach was in his own home.
“The players have to understand that they are putting the game and the community at risk by their actions,” ARLC chairman Peter V’landys said.
“It’s certainly hard to accept such behaviour when the game is doing everything it can to persuade the community that its players are responsible and behave appropriately.”
Acting NRL CEO Andrew Abdo said it was “important the players know they are held to a higher account”.
“The actions of our players that have come to light over the past couple of days has been disappointing and we have decided we needed to act swiftly,” he added.
The players have five days to respond to the breach notices.
MORE TO COME
Mama
Guest
Genius from SMH Malcolm Knox whose employer of course is trying to pay less https://www.smh.com.au/sport/nrl/how-can-the-nrl-slam-wayward-stars-they-are-its-ultimate-ambassadors-20200501-p54oxa.html
Nick Symonds
Guest
So they can't form a syndicate then?
Nick Symonds
Guest
Well I was expecting the Spanish Inquisition myself.
Nick Symonds
Guest
Catch a falling death star Put in in your pocket Save it for a rainy day - Perry Como's lost album
Gray-Hand
Roar Rookie
Harder to name a team of players that hasn’t offended off the field.
Rabbitz
Roar Guru
May the fourth come down on them like a falling deathstar...
JAGfx
Roar Rookie
Gees the season hasn't even started yet and there are breaches. These blokes are idiots! But having said that, how are the NRL, or even the AFL, going to keep about 500 young 18-32 year old super elite horny athletes under control. The temptations will be too great for some. Then you have the issue of of non NSW teams being isolated completely, whereas I'm assuming the NSW based teams will at least be allowed to return to their family homes. Not sure if that will be a huge advantage for the NSW teams, or the non NSW teams due to them probably bonding better. But it is going to be a huge struggle for both codes. And that's without even considering all the other people associated with the codes, like coaches, management, other support staff, broadcasting staff, media, medical people, stadium staff, bus drivers etc. Even if one of these boys gets taken to hospital for scans due to injury, how does stuff like that affect the whole setup. There are going to have to be a bucket load of protocols in place. And we are talking about the NRL here, which is a circus without any major pandemic....good luck with all of this, but I'm looking forward to seeing the footy back. Cheers.
Rob
Guest
Interestingly enough Females in their twenties have been infected with COVID-19 more than any other demographic in New South Wales, according to latest state government data. Was Nathan the bloke that most risked the NRL restart?
Big Daddy
Guest
John, I can see where you're coming from but what they did reflects badly on what they may be trying to achieve. There's probably certain people in the indigenous community that be shaking their head's but some will say they're being singled out. I really can't work out what these 2 have going through their minds as it doesn't reflect the general community. I have the greatest respect for the indigenous community but guys like these undo all the good work done .
Davico
Roar Pro
From the reports, yes, they are!
1.5 metres please
Guest
The Obtuse Moose has a full deck of those cards , and deals them out willy nilly all day long .
Rob
Guest
Cleary was at his house and Mitchell was on his own property in Taree where he has been living. Cleary said the girls were his sisters friends and popped over to wait for an Uber. Funny how the girls just invited themselves to lie on his lap and the couch then make a couple tik tok posts. Was a big 10 minutes at Nathan's place. JAC shot a gun and he might have other reason to be getting a bigger fine for travelling and ignoring restrictions. I'm unsure that it's illegal if someone owns the weapon and lets you have a shot? Mitchell and Cleary are in the same boat but have been penalised differently IMO.
JOHN ALLAN
Guest
When the story first broke I suggested "the discrimination card" would appear from the pack. I was subsequently labelled a racist by one of the regular contributors. I later responded in a respectful manner however it appears that Mitchell has alleged that the "punishment" was applied because he is indigenous. I rest my case Your Honour.
scrum
Roar Rookie
Nothing new here with the NRL letting the superstars off with a half hearted slap on the wrist. All the tough talk beforehand that these acts of stupidity would be addressed with tough action was just that- talk. I suspect that had they been minor players a long suspension would have been handed down. And the excuses given by Mitchell and Addo-Carr were pathetic and vomit inducing.
Davico
Roar Pro
And the worst thing for him will be to move back to Sydney. Disaster waiting to happen
Davico
Roar Pro
The RLPA would not have a leg to stand on. It’s their members who would be the cause of the competition not being able to start again, and therefore NOBODY getting paid! You would think that the RLPA has already gone out to every player since this has come out and read them the riot act and explained to them that they are putting any chance of them getting paid this year in doubt.
Davico
Roar Pro
Agreed, Also what happens if the govt just say, nah, you can't be trusted you can wait like everyone else. The NRL would be well within its rights to go to the NRLPA and say no comp, your players are not getting paid, and the NRLPA would have a hard time arguing, as it is the players (albeit only a few) who would have been the cause of the continued shut down. Idiots!
1.5 metres please
Guest
No it’s a day to film yourself illegally shooting a gun , and riding motorcycles with no boots , body armour or helmets. Do you really have to ask why Clearys was less ? In reality Mitchell and Adumbcar should be fined the remaining suspended amount regardless, due to the fact they have also been charged with firearms offences.
souvalis
Roar Rookie
Fox just took drinking Pineapple Cruisers on the roof to a new level.
Big Daddy
Guest
When your trying to convince state health officials that you should recommence and an incident like this happens and you do nothing you don't deserve to to recommence the game.