Broncos’ late night pokies spree before Eels bashing

Brisbane’s finals disaster has taken a further hit, with revelations six star players were out late at a Sydney pub playing poker machines the night before the drubbing against Parramatta.

Anthony Milford and Payne Haas were among a group of Brisbane players out before their elimination final loss. Picture: Joel Carrett

• COMMENT: Stop spinning out over pokies saga

• HURTING: Broncos boss faces fan outrage

Melbourne Storm coach Craig Bellamy has weighed in on revelations that six Brisbane players left the team hotel to play poker machines on the eve of their season-ending 58-0 loss to Parramatta.

The six Broncos were Anthony Milford, David Fifita, Corey Oates, Matt Gillett, Payne Haas and Andrew McCullough who attended a Sydney pub without the knowledge of coach Anthony Seibold just 24 hours before their biggest game of the season.

Seibold only learnt of the matter after media outlets contacted the Broncos on Tuesday and is understood to be furious.

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Anthony Milford and Payne Haas were among a group of Brisbane players out before their elimination final loss. Picture: Joel Carrett

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Bellamy admitted the move probably wasn’t the ideal lead in to the game, but conceded that might be the best way for the six players to relax.

“Our players know what’s expected of them but we’re not going to go sit home in the lounge room with them or make sure they have this for dinner and make sure they go to bed at this time and whatever,” he said.

“A little bit of education I suppose and then it’s their responsibility, the situation that happened last Saturday night, I heard someone say it yesterday, if the Broncos win or they get beat by six points no one is probably saying anything, I don’t know whether poker machines is a good preparation for a game, again you like your players relaxed.

“I don’t know what some players do for their routine before a game.

“They obviously weren’t drinking, they weren’t tearing the place up, so going out and playing the poker machines for a couple of hours is that good relaxation or not, I don’t know.”

Storm coach Craig Bellamy had his say on the issue. Picture: Michael Chambers

The Broncos coach has called at 8am crisis meeting for Wednesday at Red Hill with the entire playing squad.

While the group were not drinking alcohol, gambling before a semi-final represents a terrible look for the Broncos, who subsequently lost 58-0 to the Eels to record the biggest loss in Brisbane’s proud 31-year history.

Brisbane CEO Paul White has promised a full review of the club and this saga will bring into question the culture of Brisbane’s playing group and whether coach Seibold has lost the support of the dressing-room.

The Broncos released a statement today confirming the incident and said the conduct of the players would be considered in upcoming one-on-one meetings with coaching staff.

“In relation to media reports on the actions of Broncos team members on Saturday night, the club has spoken to a number of players,” the statement read.

Corey Oates is another player who was out late. Picture: Mark Metcalfe

“From those conversations, we understand that a small number were playing poker machines at a venue close to the team hotel.

“Others called in for a short period on their way back to the team hotel from the shops.

“There is no suggestion the players were drinking, and our entire squad presented at a team breakfast at 7am the next morning.

“Players aren’t confined to the team hotel on away trips once their team commitments including dinner, team meeting and sports massage have been completed.

“Over many years, the club has placed trust in the playing group to do the right thing in regard to their pre-game preparation.

“Given the players were about to play their biggest game of the year, they should have been more professional in their actions.

“The club will take this into consideration during the end-of-year review process currently underway.”

Eyewitnesses have confirmed at least six players attended Harpoon and Hotel Harry in Surry Hills on Saturday night, just a short 350-metre walk from Pullman Sydney Hyde Park hotel where the Broncos were staying.

Brisbane were handed a record breaking loss the following day by the Eels. Picture: Brendon Thorne

According to a Fox Sports report, Milford didn’t even know what time the Broncos were playing the next day as he chatted with a pub patron while playing the pokies.

“I knew the game started at 4pm but Milford turned to me and said: ‘I think it’s at six, eh’. He wasn’t taking the piss, he was dead set,” the source told Fox Sports.

The Broncos had only been in camp a matter of hours after flying into Sydney in the late afternoon on Saturday.

Veteran Matt Gillett was also out the night before the final. Picture: Mark Metcalfe

Seibold and the players had a team dinner around 6.30pm before the group watched a specially-prepared video presentation of their highlights from the 2019 season to act as motivation for the sudden-death final.

After the video screening, the squad left for massages before most of the squad, including skipper Darius Boyd, retreated to their rooms around 8.30pm.

It is understood Milford returned to the team hotel by 10pm for his massage. Eyewitnesses claim Fifita stayed at the pub playing the pokies on his own and left the premises just before midnight.

The revelations will come as a devastating blow to coach Seibold, who went to bed on Saturday night completely unaware Milford and Fifita went behind his back to play pokies in a shocking display of unprofessionalism before the Eels clash.

The attitude of Brisbane’s leading players spilled onto the field where they conceded 11 tries against Parramatta in the most embarrassing display in the club’s history.

Seibold later lashed the commitment of his players, declaring he wanted “winners” in the club as he pledged to undertake a full review of the worst finals capitulation in NRL history.