Kevin Proctor has apologised for the moment of madness which led to his NRL career being cut short by the Gold Coast.
The veteran forward, who was off contract at the end of the season, was sacked by the Titans on Monday after posting an Instagram story of himself in the CommBank Stadium dressing room vaping during the half-time break of Sunday’s loss to the Bulldogs.
Proctor, who five years ago was heavily fined and suspended after caught with cocaine by police in Canberra, posted footage of himself vaping with a caption “Not the half time vape” while the match was still in progress.
In a NewsCorp interview, he said a series of off-field issues were behind his reckless act and he was working hard to address those problems.
“I am embarrassed with regards to my actions,” Proctor said. “I would like to thank the Titans for their understanding and acknowledging my personal situation.”
Kevin Proctor’s Instagram post.
He thanked club owners Daryl Kelly and Rebecca Frizelle for their support, as well as Titans fans and wished coach Justin Holbrook and the rest of the team “the very best” for the rest of a wretched year in which the side is sharing the bottom rung of the ladder with the Wests Tigers.
Stadium officials confirmed vaping is not permitted in the seating bowl or anywhere around the stadium. Additionally, players cannot have their phones in the dressing rooms for integrity reasons.
Proctor was not at Titans headquarters on Monday but was notified by the club he would be fined close to $15,000 and he would not be welcome back to play or train.
“His actions were in breach of both NRL and Stadium regulations,” Gold Coast said in a statement.
At age 33, it is also possible the incident could spell the end of Proctor’s NRL career.
A premiership-winner at Melbourne in 2012 and Kiwi Test star, Proctor was a big-name signing for the Titans when he arrived in 2017.
He was also named at the club’s co-captain at the time, a role he later held until the end of last year.
However his stint has not been without drama, finding trouble in New Zealand Test camp that season and was later banned for four matches for biting Shaun Johnson in 2020.
Off-contract at the end of this year, Proctor had not featured in a Titans game since round nine and was unlikely to be re-signed for next year.
He is trying to extend his playing career with a stint in the Super League but he has almost certainly played his last game in the NRL.
The incident involving a senior player again raises the issue of culture at the NRL club, who have lost their last eight games.
They sit above only Wests Tigers on for-and-against at the bottom of the NRL ladder, with coach Justin Holbrook’s job firmly in the spotlight.
Holbrook conceded again on Sunday that a lack of experience was a key issue, after releasing established halfback Jamal Fogarty at the start of the season.
Titans management had declared at the end of last year that they were on the verge of a premiership window, believing two titles were possible before 2030.
U
Roar Rookie
He never was that bright
JennyFromPenny
Guest
Was that just suspension though? In the context of this week, I think the less about Hoppa the better.
Bernie
Guest
well, Hoppa obviously ...... who else?
JennyFromPenny
Guest
Hey Tony, a team made up of weirdly sacked players, next time you get stuck. Proctor's VaperTrail, Carney's GoldenFountain, Monaghan and Pearce's PoochyCoochyCoo, Dugan and Ferguson's RootopPassionPop ? I'm sure there's more.
Nick Maguire
Roar Rookie
:laughing:
Adam
Roar Guru
Nobody is suggesting a vape is a capital crime. People are merely pointing out the silliness of doing it at half time in the dunnies with his phone out and chucking it on the socials.
Bernie
Guest
reg thinks H.I.A. is a health fund.
Bernie
Guest
smoke what?
BustlingBillDunn
Roar Rookie
Not quite up there with Vaughn having an "illegal" home BBQ in terms of sanctimonious drivel from the 1950s housewives in the Roar comments section, but close. I'll bet you all would have had Elvis banned from the waist down. Reg Regan is crying in his KB can.
Adam
Roar Guru
Quick question. How many NRL players smoke do you reckon?
Rellum
Roar Guru
:stoked:
Adam
Roar Guru
He bought into the Goldy culture
Tez
Roar Rookie
Good decision by the Titans and just dumb, dumb, and even dumber from Proctor. Bye, bye Kevin.
matth
Roar Guru
So he’s going into partnership with Hoppa?
Tony
Roar Guru
Don't rule it out
qingdao16 .
Roar Rookie
Is there such a thing as a negative IQ?
Kent Dorfman
Roar Rookie
— COMMENT DELETED —
mushi
Roar Guru
Nah it would have been a white powder that he forgot the origins of...
JennyFromPenny
Guest
It might sound a trivial incident, but not too much doubt that what attracted Proctor to the Gold Coast was never football. Never been his first passion. Doubtful his first passion in Melbourne was football either. Very happy that we are all good for forward stocks out at Penrith.
JGK
Roar Guru
Was probably more the breach of integrity rules around having a phone in the dressing room.