NRL 2021: Api Koroisau fined and handed two-game ban for Covid bubble breach in Origin camp
Api Koroisau might have a long wait to represent NSW again after Blues officials slammed the Penrith hooker for his bubble breach in Origin camp.
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Api Koroisau may have played his last game for NSW, with Blues officials slamming the Panthers hooker for breaching their trust.
Koroisau was a Blues squad member throughout the three game series before making his Origin debut off the bench in the final game. He pushed incumbent Damien Cook to start the series in the No.9 jersey and his long been earmarked as a NSW regular.
But his hotel romp which broke the game’s strict biosecurity protocols now means Koroisau’s long wait to represent NSW may be his first and last appearance.
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While publicly the Blues have kept the door slightly ajar for Koroisau to earn back the trust of the state, privately it is highly unlikely Koroisau will be considered for selection next year.
NSWRL chief executive David Trodden said Koroisau had a long way to go before he wears the NSW jersey again.
“When someone has been given the privilege of playing for NSW and they breach that trust they have a lot of work to do before they can regain that trust and be considered for that privilege again,” Trodden said.
“Having breached the trust so badly this year. How do you, in the space of a short period of time, show that all of a sudden you can be trusted?
“Without putting a line through him officially, I don’t know how you do that in the short space of time. I’m not saying it’s impossible, I’m not sure how you do that.
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“(Coach) Brad Fittler’s interactions with the players don’t only happen during the three one-week camps. He is interacting with guys across the whole season and post-season. That’s how he develops (an understanding) of the ones he thinks are suitable for the group.”
Koroisau was fined $35,000 and served the first of his two game suspension for the Panthers during their clash against Brisbane on Saturday night. He will miss the grand final rematch against Melbourne on Saturday night.
A remorseful Koroisau on Friday night apologised for embarrassing his family and putting the competition in jeopardy after the integrity unit found that he had broken protocols by attending the hotel room of a woman while in Origin camp.
Queensland’s Jai Arrow was fined $35,000 – plus his $15,000 Origin match fee – and banned for two matches for the Rabbitohs for his own hotel room indiscretion while in Origin camp.
The Queensland Rugby League are also considering banning Arrow from next year’s series. Arrow will learn his State of Origin fate at a meeting of the Queensland Rugby League board on Friday. Considered a walk-up start for the Maroons team, barring injury, Arrow could miss out on another $45,000 through Origin match payments if he is suspended next year.
Koroisau breaks silence after bubble breach
By Dean Ritchie
Disgraced Panthers star Api Koroisau has admitted bringing “shame and embarrassment to many people” with his “selfish, thoughtless actions” after being suspended and fined for breaking Covid protocols by twice bringing a woman into NSW camp.
“I will be forever sorry,” he said.
And despite saying she had been told “painful lies” and been “hurt immensely”, Koroisau’s wife, Amy, described the Blues hooker as a “great dad”.
Koroisau was fined $35,000 and stood down for two NRL games — Saturday night’s match against Brisbane at Suncorp Stadium and the round-20 game against Melbourne Storm.
The NRL integrity unit interviewed Koroisau over claims he twice brought an unnamed woman into Blues camp before and after game two of the series. It is alleged Koroisau met the woman on social media.
In a prepared statement, Koroisau said: “I made the choice to do the wrong thing and my actions have brought shame and embarrassment to many people, especially my wife and children. I will be forever sorry.
“I apologise to my wife Amy for the pain I have caused. I’ve hurt you and the girls with my selfish, thoughtless actions. I’m determined to become a better partner, father and protector and hopefully rebuild trust and earn back your love and our family.
“I sincerely apologise to the NRL, NSWRL, Panthers, the sponsors and stakeholders, and all my teammates for letting you down. I apologise to the fans for putting our game at risk, particularly at such a challenging time for so many people.”
A shattered Amy said: “While there have been some painful lies and misrepresentations in certain media reports, I don’t think it is in the best interests of our family to engage with it.
“Api is a great dad and, although this has hurt me immensely, I have no doubt he will put the necessary strategies in place to learn from this and better who he is.”
The loss of Koroisau for two games leading into the finals is a significant blow for the Panthers. Backup Mitch Kenny is expected to replace Koroisau at hooker.
An NRL statement read: “In issuing the proposed penalty, the NRL has taken into account that the alleged breach took place before more recent breaches, including a group of Dragons players breaching NSW public health orders and Queensland player Jai Arrow breaching the game’s biosecurity protocols.
“It also takes into account the alleged breach was shortly after an upgrade in biosecurity protocols. It’s alleged Koroisau attended the hotel room of an individual who was not part of the team’s biosecurity bubble on June 27.’’
Chief executive Andrew Abdo said the NRL had further beefed up protocols and public health orders since Origin II.
Earlier on Friday, coach Ivan Cleary said the Panthers would get behind Koroisau.
“We’re doing everything we possibly can to support Api at this time and we’ll continue to do so,” he said. “It’s been a year of challenges. These things come along and it’s never a straight line in trying to be successful, we’ll deal with this like any other bump in the road.”
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