Sacked NRL star Kevin Proctor spills beans on video scandal
Former Titans captain Kevin Proctor has broken his silence about the vaping scandal that saw his contract with the NRL club torn up on Monday.
Gold Coast made stunning call to sack Proctor for vaping inside CommBank Stadium at halftime of his side's loss to Canterbury on Sunday.
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In a now-deleted Instagram story on his own page, Proctor can be seen vaping inside a cubicle at the ground midway through the Titans' 36-26 loss.
The video was uploaded with the caption "not the halftime vape", with Proctor inhaling and then shaking his head with the Titans down 26-10 at the time.
Proctor was not playing in the match, but was part of the Titans larger squad as 19th man.
Stadium officials have also confirmed that vaping is not permitted in the seating bowl or anywhere around the stadium.
Following his sacking, Proctor admits the sorry saga has left him feeling shame and remorse.
“I am embarrassed with regards to my actions,” Proctor told the Courier Mail.
“I would like to thank the Titans for their understanding and acknowledging my personal situation.
“I wish Justin (Holbrook, Titans coach) and my teammates all the very best for the rest of the year.
“I would like to thank owners Daryl Kelly and Rebecca Frizelle for their support over the years and all the Titans fans.”
Proctor’s manager Chris Orr revealed that Proctor had been battling several off-field issues, including a marriage breakdown and his mother's cancer diagnosis.
The Titans announced on Monday that they had cut ties with the player in response to the scandal.
“The Gold Coast Titans have sanctioned Kevin Proctor after being made aware of an incident during yesterday’s round 19 fixture against the Bulldogs,” the statement read.
“Proctor has also been released from his commitments with the Club for the remainder of the year and will not return to train or play with the squad.
“His actions were in breach of both NRL and Stadium regulations.”
Scandal could end Kevin Proctor's career
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.
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.
with AAP
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