Troubled Canberra centre Curtis Scott has had his contract torn up by the NRL club after a string of off-field incidents.
The troubled 23-year-old’s career was in the balance after two major off-field incidents since joining Canberra from Melbourne 18 months ago.
“The Canberra Raiders board of directors today decided to terminate the contract of Curtis Scott effective immediately… ,” the club said in a statement on Monday.
“The board decided that Curtis’ prior behaviour and recent assault charge has brought the club into disrepute, and they could not ignore this and the responsibilities that his NRL playing contract entails.
“The board said the club would continue to support Scott’s ongoing rehabilitation and it will be in contact with NRL Welfare in this regard.”
The Raiders said the board carefully considered the statements made at a ‘show cause’ hearing with Scott on August 17 and the material supplied afterward before making their decision.
Scott on Australia Day last year was accused of assaulting two police officers. He was tasered by NSW police and charged with resisting arrest before the case was thrown out in court.
In May of 2021 he was involved in a nightclub incident and charged with assault for his alleged pub altercation, with the Raiders only becoming aware one week after through the media.
He was stood down at the time, and later received a three-game ban and fined a total of $30,000 by the NRL for bringing the game into disrepute.
Scott recently turned to Alcoholics Anonymous and psychiatric treatment in a bid to save his NRL career and said the anxiety and scars of the incidents left him feeling “absolute rock bottom.”
Canberra said they will be making no further comment.
Scott, who has not appeared in the NRL since round 12, played 10 of his 71 career games this season.
Kent Dorfman
Roar Rookie
no doubt hear the party line "Sorry to the club / teammates / sponsors / supporters / NRL will never have a drink again blah blah blah (until the next shout down the boozer)
Geoff from Bruce Stadium
Roar Rookie
I suspect the recent extensions of Kris, Savage, Timoko, HSS etc were made in the knowledge that Scott was going to get the chop. It's freed up some cap. Ricky must have known about Scott's behaviour before he came - there was a reason he couldn't get a game with the Storm in his final season and they were prepared to pay half his salary in his first two seasons with the Raiders - that's how desperate they were to get rid of him. And after the tasering incident in Sydney and the Kokomo incident in Canberra plus a damaged hand in a fight with Bateman he has missed countless games. And the games he's played he was bog average apart from maybe 3 or 4. Why would you want to keep him? It didn't work out - but it hasn't cost the Raiders a lot given the Storm were paying half. Lets move on. But the handling of George Williams could have been a lot better. If something could have been worked he might still be playing and we could be playing finals footy this season. Sam Williams ain't the answer that's for sure.
Taree Raider
Guest
Who offered to pay Curtis Scott 600K per year, let alone that much for 4 years. Why so much & why didn't the Storm want to keep him? If Ricky & Bellemy are such close mates, the 'heads up' should have been given. My worry is that Craig probably did tell Ricky, but Ricky knew better as usual. Do the Raiders need centres? Timoko, Smith-Shields, Kris. Anyway the money the Raiders are now saving, spend it on CNK & the abovementioned.
fr4d
Guest
Wasn't there a (very minor) issue at the storm? He woke up on a strangers front door step or something?
Geoff from Bruce Stadium
Roar Rookie
Yeah a bit rich Scott having a go at the Raiders for letting him go when they stuck by him for months after the tasering incident in Sydney on Australia Day in 2020. The Kokomo incident was the final straw. And we didn't even know about the punch up with Bateman until last night. Scott seems to be a good bloke when you hear comments by Ricky in the past and Buzz on NRL360 last night. But he has a short fuse and behavioural issues that he needs to sort out if he wants a future in the game - and life for that matter.
Stormy
Roar Rookie
He has a long way to go before he hits the bottom. Now blaming the Club for not caring for his welfare ( mental health) & looking at legal options against them. He needs to look in the mirror, accept responsibility & decide which direction he chooses to go. I believe any club would be foolish to sign him with his present mindset. A touch of reality could make, or brake, him. Good luck.
Joe
Roar Rookie
Yep, there's got to be some personal responsibility on his part especially when his antics are affecting those around him...in particular having punch ups with team mates. Storm definitely big on team harmony and for them to pay half his freight he really must have been detrimental to team harmony...imagine if he had been there in a long camp like they did last year.
Geoff from Bruce Stadium
Roar Rookie
The Raiders took a punt on him and it didn't work out - the Storm carried half his freight for the first two seasons so they obviously wanted to see the back of him. And in his time at the Raiders he only scored 3 tries and was pretty underwhelming, I see where he is bagging the club in social media for not supporting him but he had three indiscretions - plus they supported him after he got tasered by the cops in Sydney. Honestly the bloke had enough chances. He's got to stop feeling sorry for himself and change his behaviour. I suspect the ESL might be his only option.
andrew
Roar Rookie
So long as it's not Saints.
Tony
Roar Guru
I guess he'll be heading to the Dogs then
Tony
Roar Guru
He's gotta be a dummy if he picks a fight with Bateman
Joe
Roar Rookie
Probably see why Melbourne let him go. Seems to have issues with alcohol and a temper. Story now coming out about a fight with Bateman. I remember Croft being interviewed way back when they were rooming together and he said not to cross Scott or you'll likely get punched. Then his sulky antics when he got dropped to reserve grade in 2018 I reckon might have been the point where the Storm had enough. At least he got a premiership ring while he was there. Only 23 years old so he has time to change but he is going to take a serious pay cut if he continues in the NRL.
Maxtruck
Roar Rookie
Scott, Whiton, Ferguson, Dugan, Carney The production line rolls on in Canberra. Perhaps they are just copying the antisocial lifestyle of the Canberra based politicians ? That said Scott's right cross to break Dylan Walker's cheek bone was gold class, especially because Walker taunted him to do it, & no one likes Manly !
G Len N
Roar Rookie
I actually feel sorry for him. Addiction of any type is hard to handle and work through. One of us mere mortals has an addiction and slip up in public and it’s not a news story. He buggers up and it’s a public judgement, outcry and embarrassment. I wish him well, I hope he sorts himself out and makes a comeback to footy when his s&-ts sorted.
terrykidd
Roar Pro
The key is Scott staying off the drink
DP Schaefer
Roar Rookie
but hey?? wasn't this reported about 3/4 weeks ago?? I saw it then..
Big Daddy
Roar Rookie
Can't wait until Mad Monday to see who the latest inductees into the too hard basket.
Paul
Roar Guru
Scott’s now turned to AA for support which confirms he has an addiction. In those circumstances, it’s exceedingly difficult for a person to move forward in their lives without a lot of support. That Scott has taken that step shows he’s willing to try and support himself. I’m fairly confident he’ll find a Club willing to offer him a contract, though I doubt he’ll be on serious 6 figures, at least not straight away.
The Alchemist
Guest
Tim they surely have got the wrong person mate. The upstanding individuals that grace the Rugby League field never do anything like that
zonecadet
Roar Rookie
It has been disheartening to see 'why' the Storm let him go when he appeared to be playing pretty good football for them. A few years down the track and I can see he is not up to the standards the Storm set for their players.