The NRL will consider heavier sanctions for players and officials who breach the bubble, with Peter V’landys warning they are putting all Queensland teams at risk.
Brisbane enforcer Tevita Pangai Jr on Sunday became the latest high-profile player to fall foul of the rules, banished into 14 days of isolation away from his team.
The young star was caught attending the opening of a barber shop on Saturday, less than 24 hours after his team played in Sydney.
He became the sixth rugby league figure to be sanctioned in just four days, after Wayne Bennett, Paul Vaughan and three Broncos officials including Allan Langer.
Newcastle also confirmed two players – reported to be young winger Starford To’a and uncapped playmaker Simi Sasagi – had been placed into a COVID hold.
The club informed the NRL of a potential breach on Sunday and will investigate further on Monday morning.
V’landys was left incredibly frustrated by the latest incidents, given he expected Bennett’s high-profile breach to be a wake-up for everyone just two days earlier.
While Pangai Jr is expected to be fined, V’Landys said that the next step would be to consider bigger punishments for players that could even extend to suspensions.
“We’re going to have to look at (heavier sanctions),” V’landys told AAP.
“I just can’t express my disappointment.
“In anything you do there is always that one per cent that brings everyone else down. But we just hope people realise what the ramifications are.
“We’re not going to tolerate it.”
The ARL Commission chairman warned players they were not only putting the competition and game’s finances at risk, but the wellbeing of fellow players.
The Queensland government has granted the NRL an exemption for teams to travel across their hard border into NSW but V’landys cautioned that every breach put that at risk.
“We hope this is a wake-up call. I just hope they realise the repercussions,” he said.
“It’s a very selfish act, because they put into jeopardy every other player who is in Queensland at the moment.
“How would they feel if the Queensland government pulled the exemption?
“We would have to move every player to NSW.
“It could mean all their colleagues would have to move away from their families.”
“How would they feel if that’s what they caused?”
It’s been reported Pangai Jr’s presence was discovered during a police raid of the business, with several alleged bikie gang members suspected of being at the property.
While there’s no suggestion Pangai Jr was involved in illegal activity the Broncos are looking into the situation.
“The Broncos are investigating the circumstances around the matter to determine what further action may be taken,” the club said in a statement on Sunday.
The Tonga international will be unavailable for Saturday’s clash with Canberra and the following weekend’s game against St George Illawarra for the second-last Broncos.
Broncos coach Anthony Seibold is serving a 14-day isolation period after he opted to stay in Sydney for a family matter with assistant coach Peter Gentle to lead the team for the next two weeks.
DP Schaefer
Roar Rookie
It certainly seems to be have been stoked into an almost fully fledged bushfire. Which is somewhat suss in itself. Like you, I ran across something a few weeks ago, barely whispered, then suddenly last weekend winds blew and the fire took off only to be put out just as quickly. Someone is out to make Seibs life worse??If that is possible? If we are talking the same rumour it's a n.a.s.t.y. thing to start saying about someone, caused a lot of grief.
WorldInUnion
Guest
If this rumour really is fake news, it surely has been leaked in a professionally calculated manner. I first heard whispers a few weeks ago from a usually reliable source who (based on past discretion of inside sporting intel) I had no reason to doubt. Something doesn’t smell right about the whole thing, like it was something believable turned into to something scarcely believable and now labelled potentially criminal. With all of the turmoil going on at the club now, I’m suspicious about beneficiaries within the club who would benefit from this. Can you honestly believe it to be a Chinese whisper blown completely out of proportion?
Rob
Guest
I think you’re being very nice regarding only 5% of society as selfish idiots there Matth. I reckon you could safely x5 that number. You obviously have a much more considerate, caring mob living in your parts. Maybe I’ve been surprised by the things people say and do of late.
DP Schaefer
Roar Rookie
Interesting development, it was growing like it had life a few days ago. One of the journos (Hooper?) on 360 (Fox?) described it as ‘unfounded’ “innuendo”. I hope then for all concerned that this rumour is consigned to the bin where baseless gossip is filed and forgotten. Cheers mate.
Nat
Roar Rookie
He can watch it with me. If they think social media is rough, I'll replay all those poor forward tries on replay and offer up some advice of my own.
Nat
Roar Rookie
That's a bit simplistic. Those girls (both cases) broke the law and put the Qld population at risk of COVID. The players broke protocol but they are still under strict testing standards along with their bubble. Their risk is to the game, not the community.
Rellum
Roar Guru
I was wondering if that was you.
matth
Roar Guru
Yes and he should be forced to watch only the Broncos games. Every. Single. Minute. I know it's felt like a heck of a punishment for me.
matth
Roar Guru
Nicely done Nat. I was going to say the same.
matth
Roar Guru
I'd say the NRL has 1% to 5% selfish idiots like the rest of society.
matth
Roar Guru
I heard this morning on the radio from the courier Mail Chief sports writer that the allegations are untrue.
DP Schaefer
Roar Rookie
I suppose time will tell if the paper bought the extension pitch. If I hear right, I hope there was also concern for the impact this story will have on a wider range of people’s emotional well being, not just Seibs, Bronco Management and Paul White.
WorldInUnion
Guest
I understand the Courier Mail had all day talks with the broncos senior management today who are pleading for a 2 weeks grace period before the stories runs. Part of this is protecting Seibold’s mental state and the rest is to give Paul White a successful exit strategy. Once it blows there will be front page stories for days, possibly even weeks
Tony
Roar Guru
Or just cut loose to ride his bike
Tony
Roar Guru
TPJ has half a brain, and he can't work it out.
Tony
Roar Guru
You could write 100 stories about AFL but no one, other than an insomniac, is going to read them
DP Schaefer
Roar Rookie
I wouldn't say no to him. The right kind of coach eg. Flanno, has had some success in channelling guys like that. He'd be a great asset if focussed right.
no one in particular
Roar Guru
Mexicans are great at sweeping things under the carpet
no one in particular
Roar Guru
I've read Harry Potter books that are closer to reality then a Rothfield column
DP Schaefer
Roar Rookie
I assume you're talking about about the story that revolves about a bloke cultivating/fertilising fields not his own? I ran across that before but wasn't sure it had legs until last weekend. I can't judge the why but I do know from what I've seen in life that there is a world of hurt afoot. Stress and pressure find ways to grow and spread. Very upsetting.