The Roar
The Roar

Advertisement

Dragons' party crew still out of training

Autoplay in... 6 (Cancel)
Up Next No more videos! Playlist is empty -
Replay
Cancel
Next
9th July, 2021
20

St George Illawarra’s dirty dozen remain in limbo with some of the club’s sidelined players refusing to sign a statutory declaration over details of last week’s bubble breach.

All 12 players who attended Paul Vaughan’s infamous party have been provided with a statement from the NRL, asking them to sign off on the details.

Included in it is confirmation that no-one from outside of the club’s bubble was at the party besides NSW Police, and that no ride sharing, taxis or public transport was used to travel to or from.

The information in the statement is all from detail provided to the NRL Integrity Unit as part of investigations last Sunday and Monday.

None of the group are able to return to training or playing until all declarations are returned, to ensure there is no risk of a biosecurity threat.

Corey Norman passes the ball

(Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

In a copy of the document published by the Daily Telegraph, players are warned of “significant penalties” from the NRL if they provide “false, incomplete or inaccurate information”.

The Dragons had hoped to have the group back at training on Friday, but their absence combined with that of State of Origin players meant there were less than five players in attendance from their last game.

Advertisement

The club are also closing in on a plan on how to manage each of the players’ one-game bans through the next four rounds, provided the declarations are signed.

The suspensions must be served between the next two to four weeks, with games against Manly, Gold Coast, South Sydney and Canberra.

The clashes against the Titans and Raiders in particular are crucial, as they battle with both for the bottom two spots in the top eight.

St George Illawarra are currently placed seventh, but have a hard run home and have lost Vaughan from their squad after sacking him immediately.

They are expected to at least have Warriors forward Jamayne Taunoa-Brown on a short-term deal to cover their shortcomings in the middle.

Each of the offending players have already been fined a combined $305,000 by the NRL, as well as $1000 by NSW Police for breaching stay-at-home orders.

Advertisement

© AAP

close