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NRL slaps 10 Broncos players with huge fine for pub trip

Australian Associated Press
·2-min read
David Fifita (pictured left) and Cory Paix (pictured right) tire during a match for the Broncos.
David Fifita (pictured left) and Cory Paix (pictured right) of the Broncos were two players fined. (Getty Images)

Brisbane's pub lunch earlier this month has turned out to be very costly with the NRL issuing the Broncos and 10 players fines for breaching biosecurity protocols.

The Broncos have been fined $75,000 and each of the 10 players fined five per cent of their salary, totalling $65,000, after the group attended a lunch at the Everton Park Hotel on August 1.

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In a statement, the NRL said while the Broncos players were permitted to dine at restaurants and cafes they were not permitted to sit in pubs and gaming areas at the time of the breaches.

"It is our view that this breach involved a significant failure of the club to properly administer the league's biosecurity protocols," NRL acting chief executive Andrew Abdo said.

The players fined for contravening the league's COVID-19 restrictions include regular first-graders David Fifita, Kotoni Staggs, Corey Oates, Corey Paix and Jake Turpin.

Three development players were also among the group and will have a portion of their fines suspended.

Tevita Pangai Jnr stood down

It's the latest in a string of COVID-19 related breaches by the Broncos including Tevita Pangai Jnr's visit to a barber shop which was subsequently attended by police amid suspected outlaw motorcycle gang links.

While Pangai Jnr wasn't accused of anything illegal, he has since been stood down indefinitely by the NRL and fined $30,000.

Former Brisbane player and current assistant coach Allan Langer was among three staff members to be fined and stood down after attending a private function at the Caxton Hotel.

Coach Anthony Seibold slams rumours

The Broncos coach Anthony Seibold has spoken out about ‘disgusting’ rumours about his family, slamming the NRL for reportedly failing to check in on him.

The Broncos coach commenced legal action last week over a number of vile rumours that have been making the rounds on social media and online fan forums about him.

Broncos coach Anthony Seibold speaks to the media at a press conference.
Broncos coach Anthony Seibold speaks to the media at a press conference. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

Seibold was forced to break the NRL’s biosecurity bubble to deal with a “serious” family matter recently, with false rumours about what happened only making matters worse.

“I understand I’m in a high-profile position at a high profile club. But this is my family and other people mentioned in those disgusting and false messages,” Seibold told the Daily Telegraph.

“They don’t ask to be in the spotlight. Say whatever you want about my coaching and the team’s performances but to make up lies and all that abuse … it’s sickening and I’m not going to cop it.”