NRL news: James Tedesco responds to ‘Squid Game’ breach notice, wants fine reduction

James Tedesco has made a written submission to the NRL in the hope, at least, of having his fine for ‘drunken and disorderly behaviour’ cut after he cooperated with the game’s investigation.

NSW skipper James Tedesco has responded to an NRL breach notice after he was whacked with a $10,000 fine for “drunken and disorderly behaviour”.

Tedesco has made a written submission to NRL boss Andrew Abdo after the integrity unit investigated an allegation of a racial slur last month.

Under the NRL’s rules, Tedesco was give five days to respond to the breach notice. The Sydney Roosters captain has taken up that opportunity in the hope, at the least, to have the fine reduced after he cooperated with the game’s investigation.

James Tedesco isn’t in danger of having his captaincies stripped.

It was alleged Tedesco said “Squid Game” at a 20-year-old woman — who is of Vietnamese descent — when he walked past her in Bondi on October 20. The woman made an official complaint to the NRL’s integrity unit. Tedesco denied any wrong doing.

It is expected the NRL will make a decision on Tedesco’s response early this week. In addition to the fine, the NRL proposed Tedesco must undergo education and training.

The NRL fined Tedesco after he “allegedly engaged in drunken and disorderly behaviour directed at members of the public which caused offence.”

The Blues nor the Roosters have any plans to strip him of the captaincy.

Tedesco was also the front-runner to replace Boyd Cordner as Kangaroos skipper at next year’s world cup.

Tedesco still takes a hit after being cleared of racial slur

- Brent Read and Phil Rothfield

James Tedesco is expected to be spared any further sanctions from the Sydney Roosters or the NSW Blues after he was fined by the NRL over a late-night incident in Bondi, but cleared of the more concerning claims of racism.

The NRL handed down their findings on the matter on Friday, exactly a fortnight after the allegations were first raised on social media by the sister of the woman at the centre for the claims.

The woman, who was of Vietnamese descent, alleged that Tedesco had yelled “Squid Games” — a reference to the Korean show that has been a smash hit on Netflix — at her when he was with a group of other people, some of them Roosters teammates.

The woman was interviewed last week by the NRL integrity unit along with her sister. Tedesco and his teammates who were with him on the night were also brought before the integrity unit to address the issue.

The NRL brought the matter to a close on Friday as they handed Tedesco a breach notice ordering the Roosters and NSW captain to pay a $10,000 fine and undergo education and training for drunk and disorderly behaviour that caused offence.

The NRL has fined James Tedesco. Picture: Grant Trouville/NRL Photos

Tedesco has five days to respond to the sanction. While the Roosters are understood to be disappointed that Tedesco put himself in the situation, the club isn’t expected to weigh in with sanctions of their own. Nor are the Blues, who appointed Tedesco captain last season when Boyd Cordner slipped into retirement.

The circumstances may have been different if Tedesco had been found guilty of racism, but the NRL determined that there was no evidence to support claims that he had been guilty of racial abuse.

It is understood the woman at the centre of the allegations was informed of the NRL’s findings on Friday morning.

“The National Rugby League has issued Sydney Roosters player James Tedesco with a breach notice alleging he behaved in a drunken and disorderly manner and also brought the game into disrepute in Bondi on 20 October, 2021,” the NRL said in a statement.

“Tedesco’s breach notice proposes a $10,000 fine and that he must undergo education and training as directed by the NRL. The particulars of the breach notice are that Tedesco allegedly engaged in drunken and disorderly behaviour directed at members of the public which caused offence.”

It is understood the NRL, like the Roosters, were disappointed that a player of Tedesco’s standing allowed himself to be put in a difficult situation, alcohol playing a part.

Tedesco is one of the best players in the game, having stepped into the leadership void with the Roosters and NSW when long-time teammate Corder was forced into retirement by ongoing concussion issues.

Yet, captaincy of his club and state would have been placed in jeopardy had the NRL’s inquiries found there was evidence to support a racial attack. Regardless, there is a sense of disappointment in the corridors of Rugby League Central and Roosters headquarters that a player of Tedesco’s ilk has added to the bad press since the season came to an end.

It is understood the education and training he will undergo will centre around managing alcohol and the standards that are expected of high-profile players.

NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo, in an exclusive interview with News Corp prior to the Tedesco outcome being revealed, admitted the game needed to do more to address cultural standards.

James Tedesco is one of the NRL’s biggest stars. Picture: Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images

“We need to do more to make sure that there is an environment that has minimum standards across the game — there are varying standards and there are varying approaches to doing things,” Abdo said.

“I guess you see that in the outcomes. You see in some situations the same mistakes being made repeatedly by some.

“In other areas, you see less poor decisions. I think there is more we can do. I also think we live in a world where the players are heavily scrutinised…. and sometimes when things go wrong it is magnified and amplified.

“Sometimes things get portrayed in a way that is not fair.”

It had been alleged the champion fullback directed a racial comment towards a woman of Vietnamese descent which forced the NRL’s integrity unit to launch an investigation.

The Daily Telegraph understands the allegations of racism could not be proven.

However he was fined for drunken behaviour.

The woman at the centre of the allegation and her sister, who took to social media to make the original claims, were interviewed.

Other players in the group with Tedesco also spoke to integrity unit investigators.

Originally published as NRL news: James Tedesco responds to ‘Squid Game’ breach notice, wants fine reduction