NRL CEO Todd Greenberg scolds former Titans captain Kevin Proctor’s drug explanation

NRL CHIEF executive Todd Greenberg has scolded Kevin Proctor’s explanation that he suffered from drunken memory loss on his night of shame.

Titans training at Cbus Stadium, Robina. Kevin Proctor. Picture: Jerad Williams

NRL chief executive Todd Greenberg has scolded Kevin Proctor’s explanation that he suffered from drunken memory loss on his night of shame.

Greenberg was accused by rugby league devotees on social media of being too lenient on drug-taking by players when he congratulated the Melbourne club for banning their player Jesse Bromwich for two matches for a code of conduct of breach.

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Proctor resigned from the Titans co-captaincy on Sunday after he and Kiwis teammate Bromwich had been mentioned in a Canberra court hearing a charge against a third man of selling cocaine to the two New Zealand internationals.

The New Zealand Rugby League announced both Bromwich and Proctor would be ineligible for selection for the World Cup later this year as punishment for their big night out after the Test match last Friday night.

Greenberg has praised the Gold Coast’s and Melbournes handling of the situation.

Gold Coast’s board will decide later this week if any additional penalties should be for Proctor partly on the basis of information forwarded from the NRL Integrity Unit which had been given to a Canberra court, Titans CEO Graham Annesley said.

The Integrity Unit has the power to increase sanctions handed out by NRL clubs to their players if deemed insufficient.

Proctor said he could not deny allegations about his actions on Saturday morning because he had consumed so much alcohol he could not remember what he did.

“I agree it’s a very poor look for him and what he stands for — and for the club and the game,’’ Greenberg said.

“These are leaders within the game who should absolutely understand the ramifications and they’ve paid the price.’’

MONDAY BUNKER: This week we dissect a weekend of shame for the NRL with three players and an official involved in drug busts while Josh Dugan and Johnathan Thurston return from Kangaroo duty with injuries.

Greenberg said he “congratulated the clubs (Melbourne and Gold Coast) for getting on the front foot’’.

Asked if Greenberg’s comments were a tacit recommendation to the Titans board should regard a two-match ban for Proctor as appropriate, Annesley said: “We haven’t determined our sanctions yet until the board conducts the hearing later this week.

“You’d have to ask Todd (if it is sufficient penalty). I haven’t had a discussion with Todd.’’

Proctor has not been charged under the NRL’s three-strike anti-doping policy for illicit drugs use and therefore cannot be suspended for a first offence.

Like Bromwich, Proctor will answer a charge instead of breaching a code of conduct section on his contract with the Titans.

Titans training at Cbus Stadium, Robina. Kevin Proctor. Picture: Jerad Williams

“The breach is already public. That’s the twist with this one,’’ Annesley said.

“The board is not dealing with it as a first strike. It’s dealing with it as a code of conduct breach because of the public attention drawn to this.

“I’m in constant contact with the Integrity Unit and they’ve passed on information to me obtained from the authorities in Canberra. It’s the basis on which the board will conduct their inquiries.’’

Unlike Bromwich and the Storm, who made no reference to cocaine in a media statement, Proctor said he could not deny allegations against him from he had done on Saturday morning.

“Taking drugs is not something I support or encourage because I am very aware of the damage it can do,’’ Proctor said.

Greenberg said the two Kiwis players had been “open and transparent’’ in answering questions from their clubs.

“I’m sure they aren’t proud (of their behaviour),’’ he said.

Originally published as NRL CEO Todd Greenberg scolds former Titans captain Kevin Proctor’s drug explanation