Junior Paulo’s rugby cameo means $2000 for club whose juniors will miss out

NRL star Junior Paulo may have had a laugh playing third-grade rugby under a fake name but juniors at Oatley Rugby Club will pay the price for the prank.

• PARRAMATTA TO PROBE PAULO’S PARK JAUNT
• PAULO: RUGBY COACH TAKES THE BLAME

NRL star Junior Paulo may have had a bit of a laugh playing third-grade rugby under a fake name but juniors at Oatley Rugby Club aren't smiling — because they will literally pay the price for the prank.

While Paulo was free to play for the Eels in Friday night’s loss to the Rabbitohs, despite breaking his contract by donning a disguise to play a rival code against amateurs, the Oatley Rugby Club was stripped of 24 points and fined $2000 by the NSW Rugby Union.

Angry Oatley officials are demanding Paulo pay the fine, which is 20 per cent of the club’s annual income and will otherwise have to be raised through raffles, donations and sausage sizzles.

Rugby juniors at Oatley, where the $2000 fine is 20 per cent of the club’s annual income. Picture: Tim Hunter

Despite breaching his contract and endangering amateur footballers, the 120kg forward remains unpunished.

“We have not even received a phone call from either the Eels or the NRL to ask if he played,’’ Oatley president Richard Rice said.

“We are not a professional organisation and it is the kids that will pay for his actions by missing out on jerseys and equipment.

“Some teams will have to wear the same jerseys three years in a row because they cost $1500 for a set.’’

Junior Paulo played 20 minutes for Oatley.

The Eels forward assists in a tackle.

Oatley third-grade coach Hendry Lees was also barred from coaching any form of rugby union for 12 months for allowing his brother-in-law Paulo to play 20 minutes of the match, as revealed by The Daily Telegraph last week.

Oatley’s opponents, Beecroft, were also unimpressed.

“One of our players could have been seriously injured,’’ a Beecroft official said.

“There are just normal blokes running around for a bit of fun coming up against a 120kg monster, who lifts weights and runs at people for a living.

“It is rich that the club has been penalised and he hasn’t.’’

Oatley Rugby Club youngsters go for a sprint during training at Lugarno. Picture: Tim Hunter