Coronavirus QLD: Broncos still facing huge sanctions despite police clearance

Acting NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo has warned the Broncos will face “strong sanctions” despite being cleared to train and play this weekend.

Acting NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo has warned the Broncos will face “strong sanctions” if they are found guilty of breaching the code’s COVID guidelines following their pub-bonding saga.

The Broncos have received some good news, with a Queensland police investigation ruling that up to 10 players did not breach the Chief Health Officer’s public-health directions in relation to the Government’s COVID-19 protocols.

The group – which includes David Fifita, Kotoni Staggs, Rhys Kennedy, Jake Turpin and Corey Oates – were also cleared by the NRL of any biosecurity breach.

It means the players will not be required to enter the NRL’s 14-day “COVID hold”, enabling them to play against the Raiders on Saturday night in Canberra.

However the Broncos are sweating on the final outcome of the NRL’s investigation, with the integrity unit yet to determine whether the club has formally breached strict COVID rules which could trigger a hefty financial penalty.

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The NRL integrity unit has interviewed the Broncos players involved in the drinking session at the Everton Park Hotel and are attempting to source CCTV footage from police to determine their precise actions.

If NRL investigators are able to establish that Broncos players were drinking and playing poker machines in an area deemed a pub premises, it will be a blatant breach of the code’s COVID guidelines.

Souths coach Wayne Bennett, Dragons prop Paul Vaughan and Brisbane assistant coach Allan Langer were fined and placed in COVID Holds for breaches and Abdo has put the code on notice, including the Broncos.

Abdo added the game was working closely with Queensland authorities to determine if the Broncos had breached NRL rules.

“We are conducting a detailed investigation to ensure we have all available evidence before determining the need for sanctions,” he said.

“It is important we have all the facts and evidence before making a decision.

“Right from the start of this pandemic we have made it clear if protocols are breached players and officials will face strong sanctions.

“Our actions in recent days have confirmed that.”

Mr Abdo said the biosecurity assessment of the investigation had been finalised, clearing all Broncos players to be available this week for the Raiders match.

“Our biosecurity experts have determined the players will not be required to enter a COVID-19 Hold,” he said.

The Broncos players involved in the Everton Park Hotel visit have been ordered to undergo COVID-19 testing immediately.

The Sports bar in the Everton Park Hotel, where some Broncos players may have broken their COVID-19 bubble. Picture: Tara Croser

Broncos caretaker coach Peter Gentle said the playing group is trying to put the pub-bonding affair behind them and is confident it won’t be a distraction for their difficult road trip to face last year’s grand finalists Canberra.

“It is good news that the players have been cleared to play,” he said.

“I don’t know if it was a distraction or not. It’s probably in the back of their minds but it wasn’t spoken about as a group or as a team.

“The priority was getting our meetings done, getting out on the field and trying to nail the training session, which we pretty much did.

“I have no idea (what happens re: self-isolating for COVID testing), but the good news is they can play.

“We are desperate to give the members, fans and our sponsors something to be proud of. It’s been a long time coming but we are desperate to put in a good performance on Saturday night.”

Queensland Deputy Police Commissioner Steve Gollschewski said police had concluded there were no breaches of the Chief Health Officer COVID directives in Queensland.

“So the issue is then, anything that then has happened has it breached the NRL bubble agreement that is managed by Queensland Health with NRL?” Mr Gollschewski said.

“That is completely a matter for them, it’s interpretative of the evidence that we will have shared with them.

“They will make decisions around that and I think it’s inappropriate for me to comment on what that evidence would be.”

Mr Gollschewski said he was sure Queensland Health and the NRL would examine the incident for bubble breaches.

“I know Jeannette Young takes this very seriously so it will be looked at in some detail I would imagine,” Mr Gollschewski said.

“It’s their responsibility, they have the lawful responsibility to do it, I will leave it to them.”

Mr Gollschewski said the investigation was “very thorough”.

When asked if police had given the CCTV video to the NRL or if the league had requested the video Mr Gollschewski said police did not deal directly with the NRL.

“So the relationship in relation to Queensland with the NRL is a matter for Queensland Health to manage,” he said.

ESCAPING ISOLATION

It comes as it’s revealed a 25-year-old Toowoomba man has been charged after he allegedly escaped mandatory hotel quarantine as part of COVID-19 border restrictions.

Police also say he was wanted by them when he was intercepted at the New South Wales border 10 days ago.

He was wanted for a breach of bail and two counts of failing to appear.

The man also gave police a false name when he crossed into Queensland at Goondiwindi.

Police issued the man a $4003 fine for providing false information on a border declaration pass and gave him a notice to appear in the Goondiwindi Magistrates Court, on September 2, where he will face the fail to appear charges.

The man absconded from his mandatory quarantine at the Athena Motel Apartments, sometime late Tuesday or early yesterday.

The escape prompted a large-scale manhunt before the man returned to the hotel yesterday, where he was arrested by police and charged with failing to comply with the COVID-19 Chief Health Officer’s Public Health Direction.

The man appeared in the Toowoomba Magistrates Court today.

He received a negative COVID-19 test result overnight and there is no risk to the local community.

The state’s total number of cases remains steady at 1089 with only nine active.