Jayden Okunbor, Corey Harawira-Naera appeals: Bulldogs pair to fight NRL ban
UPDATE: Jayden Okunbor and Corey Harawira-Naera will appeal against the decision to have their contracts torn up by the NRL for serious misconduct in Port Macquarie.
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Former Canterbury duo Jayden Okunbor and Corey Harawira-Naera are appealing their indefinite NRL ban.
Okunbor and teammate Harawira-Naera had their contracts torn up last week for serious misconduct in bringing two schoolgirls back to their hotel room during a pre-season trip to Port Macquarie for a trial game.
But the pair have decided to appeal their ban. Okunbor lodged his paperwork with the NRL early Wednesday while Harawira-Naera followed his former teammate later in the day.
The NRL has given them no timeline about a possible return.
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The move came as a surprise to their former club who only learnt about the decision to appeal when it was revealed online by The Daily Telegraph.
No date has been set for their hearing. The appeal will be heard by former High Court judge Ian Callinan, the chair of the NRL Appeals committee.
Okunbor, 23, and Harawira-Naera, 24, were accused of contacting the girls on social media. They were given show cause notices before the NRL came down with their ban.
Their behaviour that led to indefinite deregistration’s was labelled ‘inexcusable’ in a statement released by NRL boss Todd Greenberg at the time.
“The behaviour of both players was inexcusable and a very serious breach of the code of conduct,” Greenberg said. “The game will not tolerate such conduct and as such both players have had their registrations cancelled.
“This decision should send a very clear message to all players of our stance on such behaviour.”
The Bulldogs backed the game’s decision to cancel the pair’s contract immediately.
"Our club acted swiftly and was proactive in relation to the incidents in accordance with the expectations of our club and the NRL guidelines," the Bulldogs statement read.
Canterbury lost major sponsor Rashays because of Okunbor and Harawira-Naera’s actions.
Despite publicly declaring the restaurant would consider resuming sponsorship negotiations with the club, it is understood that is yet to take place.
Meanwhile, the Bulldogs have been dealt a further blow with Harawira-Naera’s replacement Joe Stimson facing an extended stint on the sideline.
The Storm recruit tore the front of his shoulder joint during Canterbury’s round two match against the Cowboys. The injury needs surgery but any operation has been delayed because of the coronavirus. The injury could sideline him for the rest of the season.
Kieran Foran (shoulder) and Chris Smith (knee) could return by the time the NRL resumes.
Marcelo Montoya and Kerrod Holland (both knee) are fit.
Originally published as Jayden Okunbor, Corey Harawira-Naera appeals: Bulldogs pair to fight NRL ban