Broncos star Kotoni Staggs investigated over alleged pub altercation

Controversial Brisbane centre Kotoni Staggs is once again in the headlines for the wrong reasons, with the NRL’s behavioural watchdog to probe a pub incident.

The NRL integrity unit is investigating Broncos star Kotoni Staggs over an alleged incident with a woman at a Brisbane pub.

The controversial centre is under fire once again with the NRL’s behavioural watchdog to probe allegations Staggs was involved in an argument in an alcohol-fuelled argument at the Eatons Hill Hotel during the Easter weekend.

It is his third off-field drama in the past 12 months.

NRL investigators are seeking CCTV footage of the incident involving Staggs.

News Corp understands Staggs drank with mates earlier in the evening before kicking on at the Eatons Hill establishment until 3am. While at the pub, Staggs got involved in an argument with a woman.

The NRL integrity unit is investigating Broncos star Kotoni Staggs. Picture: Brad Fleet

The woman took offence to Staggs touching her and asked the Bronco to get his hands off her.

The issue became heated with security intervening and ejecting Staggs from the premises.

The incident was not reported to police, nor is Staggs at the centre of any criminal charges. Nor is he accused of any criminal wrongdoing.

The Broncos were made aware of the incident last week and immediately notified the NRL integrity unit, who have since interviewed Staggs.

The woman has spoken to the Broncos and has indicated she has no interest in taking further action against Staggs, who has since expressed his remorse to her over the incident.

Staggs has told NRL authorities he he had drunk so much he can’t remember key specifics of his night out.

Broncos coach Kevin Walters addressed the Staggs saga on the eve of Brisbane’s clash against the Eels in Darwin on Friday night.

“We’re aware of the situation with the NRL integrity unit and we will leave it in their safe hands,” he said.

“I won’t make any more comment than that, but we are certainly aware of the situation and that it is being investigated by the NRL.

“We’ll support Kotoni and the NRL in their investigations.

“I’ve spoken to him about it, (I was made aware of it) a couple of days ago.

“We are up here to play against the Eels, Kotoni is not here but we are supporting him, like we would all our players in this situation. We have full respect for the NRL and the integrity unit in their investigation, we support them 100 per cent as well.

It is the third off-field drama in less than 12 months for Staggs, who was embroiled in a revenge-porn video saga last August before being hit with a breach notice by the NRL in January after he used a homophobic slur to insult a fan who asked for a photo.

Staggs knocked back a man’s request for a photo and said: “Nah, you walk like a f*****”.

The man told Staggs to “f*** off” and a short time later the Broncos centre confronted the man and asked if he called him a “black c***”.

The incident went down like a lead balloon with the NRL, with chief executive Andrew Abdo fining Staggs $10,000 and warning one of the game’s brightest talents not to ruin his career.

Kotoni Staggs has yet to play this season as he recovers from an ACL injury. Picture: Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images

“We have issued him with a $10,000 fine and most importantly, he has to complete an education course and he has to meet with me personally and the head of integrity, together with the club CEO, before he is permitted to play again,” Abdo said in February.

“We want him to understand the impact of his words on people and the responsibility that players have to the community. His language is utterly unacceptable but this is about making sure he understands the impact of that and actually changes.

“There are three components - the fine, the education course and making sure he sits down with us.

“Getting them to meet with me is not the silver bullet, but I want to explain to them the impact this has on their personal brand, on the club brand and on the game’s brand and then there are two ways they can go from there.

“This is important in relation to Kotoni which is why we want to meet with him before he returns to the field.”

Kotoni Staggs in action for the Broncos last year. Picture: Scott Davis/NRL Photos

Should the governing body find Staggs has a case to answer over his latest incident, it could put his Broncos and NRL career in jeopardy given his off-field history at the age of 22.

The NSW Origin hopeful is poised to sign a new deal with the Broncos and Walters is adamant the pub drama would not impact on Staggs’s future at Red Hill.

“No, it won’t affect anything forward,” he said.

“I expect (an answer) in the next week or two ... but I’m very confident we will hang on to Kotoni, I can see him wearing a Broncos jersey next year.

“I certainly do (have confidence in keeping Staggs), we are always confident of keeping our players.

“We’re a big club, we’re a powerful club, we’re a strong club and players want to come and play here.”

Originally published as Broncos star Kotoni Staggs investigated over alleged pub altercation