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League favourite says he was duped by ‘drug driver’

FORMER NRL star Bryan Fletcher says he is the victim of an elaborate sting after a video emerged of a crafty cabbie flourishing a bag of what appears to be drugs in the rugby league funnyman’s face.

Bryan Fletcher 'white powder setup'

FOX Sports star Bryan Fletcher says he is the victim of an elaborate sting after a video emerged of a crafty cabbie flourishing a bag of what appears to be drugs in the rugby league funnyman’s face.

The grainy phone footage shows what is claimed to be an Uber driver boasting: “Look who I’m selling bags to … ” before dangling the package in front of Fletcher.

Ex NRL player and current Fox personality, Bryan Fletcher, in the back of an Uber in Sydney on Saturday night.
Ex NRL player and current Fox personality, Bryan Fletcher, in the back of an Uber in Sydney on Saturday night.
Fletcher says he was set up by the driver who waved the bag in his face.
Fletcher says he was set up by the driver who waved the bag in his face.

The 44-year-old, who enjoyed a stellar rugby league career and is now one of Fox League’s most recognisable personalities, said he was duped after returning home from a night out with his wife and is now considering reporting the set up to police.

Last night police had not yet received a complaint.

The former Roosters and Kangaroos star, who often jokes about his party boy persona on The Late Show With Matty Johns, was captured giving a thumb’s up in the car in the clip filmed by the driver on Saturday night.

Fletcher was out on Saturday night for an event in Kings Cross. Picture: Sam Ruttyn
Fletcher was out on Saturday night for an event in Kings Cross. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

The motorist, who is recording the entire episode, seems a little starstruck, repeatedly saying: “This is the man”, as the camera pans across to show Fletcher, as the balding driver pokes his head into the frame.

But Fletcher quickly bats away the driver’s hand as he begins to wave around a small bag of what looks like white powder.

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Fletcher playing for the Sydney Roosters against Canberra in 2001. Picture: Gregg Porteous
Fletcher playing for the Sydney Roosters against Canberra in 2001. Picture: Gregg Porteous

The startled 13-Test veteran, who enjoyed a 10-year career at the very top of the game and played 14 times for NSW, also protests, saying: “Don’t say that … I don’t know who this driver is, we’re just hanging out … it’s Saturday night, I’m just in an Uber.”

Married father-of-two Fletcher refused to comment about the video but is privately insisting to colleagues he had been deceived.

FOX League

And his manager Steve Gillis said that his client has the full support of Fox Sports.

“He has done nothing wrong and told me he was in a taxi heading home with his wife after a night out having dinner,” Mr Gillis said.

“The driver asked him for a quick Snapchat video — he’s been set up.

“Fletch told me that he’s never met the bloke, he just jumped in the back of his cab and driver pulled this stunt — he’s clearly been set up.”

Bryan Fletcher and Nathan Hindmarsh at Fox Sports Artarmon. Picture: Craig Greenhill
Bryan Fletcher and Nathan Hindmarsh at Fox Sports Artarmon. Picture: Craig Greenhill
Fletcher swats the driver’s hand away when he dangles the bag in his face.
Fletcher swats the driver’s hand away when he dangles the bag in his face.

Mr Gillis and Fletcher were yesterday considering involving the police over the incident.

“We’ve discussed reporting this matter to the police but we’re not sure where we can take it,” Mr Gillis said. “The taxi driver has given zero thought to the consequences of his actions which is extremely disappointing.”

After leaving the Roosters, Fletcher — who is also a qualified plumber — moved to South Sydney before finishing his rugby league career in 2007 with a two-year stint in England

He began his own cleaning and maintenance business, Cleanfit. It specialises in cleaning pubs, clubs and office blocks in Sydney.

But he is best known for being the loveable larrikin on Matty Johns’s popular Fox League show, where he and Parramatta legend Nathan Hindmarsh have become infamous for their skits that often have audiences rolling in the aisles.

Original URL: https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw/league-favourite-says-he-was-duped-by-drug-driver/news-story/294145a50d7a618195bd604039fdae2c