St George Illawarra Dragons players named after ‘heated exchange’ at team hotel

Dramatic details are beginning to emerge about an altercation at the Dragons team hotel – with the two stars involved now named.

The players have been named. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)NRL: The South Sydney Rabbitohs have belted the Dragons for the Charity Shield just a few weeks out from the 2023 NRL season.

The two players at the centre of the ongoing Dragons late-night hotel drama have been named as winger Mikaele Ravalawa and prop Zane Musgrove.

News Corp reports that the club are set to discipline the pair, 25 and 26 respectively, after a boozy night ended with a scuffle that forced teammates and club staff to separate them in the early hours of Sunday morning.

Teammates were woken up by the altercation, which reportedly occurred at 6am in the morning after most of the playing group had returned to their rooms.

Watch the new look NRL Pre-Season exclusive to Fox League available on Kayo Sports. New to Kayo? Start your free trial now >

After being obliterated by the South Sydney Rabbitohs, 42-24, in a Charity Shield game earlier in the day, the team were given the green light to head out following the loss, with the Dragons scheduled for an opening-round bye.

Dragons players were reportedly well behaved in public and weren’t given a curfew, but were under instructions to return to the team accomodation at a reasonable hour in a reasonable state.

Once back at the Winning Post Motor Inn in Mudgee, it’s believed some of the players continued drinking into the early hours of Sunday morning.

Club CEO Ryan Webb spoke with News Corp on Monday night but preferred not to comment.

Mikaele Ravalawa is under contract with the Dragons until the end of 2023. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

Zane Musgrove has joined the Dragons from Wests Tigers, having had a litany of off-field issues in the past. Picture: NRL Photos

“The club allowed them to have a night out, that was pre-scheduled, they were fine on their night out according to my sources,” said Nine’s Danny Weidler.

“But when they got back to their team hotel, The Winning Post in Mudgee, that’s where a heated exchange, it’s been described to me, took place between two players and other players and other people at the Dragons had to step in to sort out the situation.

“The Dragons are insisting there were no punches thrown between the players but it was definitely a heated exchange and that the behaviour of the players, according to the Dragons, does not meet their club standards and they’re going to be looking further into it.”

BREAKING: There's been a 'heated exchange' between two Dragons players in Mudgee. 😳🐲 #9WWOS#NRLpic.twitter.com/kzyUevbjZu

— NRL on Nine (@NRLonNine) February 20, 2023

The club released a statement, stating they’ll further investigate to determine if any action is required.

“The Dragons are aware of a verbal argument that took place between two players at the team hotel on Sunday morning,” the statement said.

“The club regards this behaviour as unacceptable and will now determine whether any disciplinary action is warranted.

“The club will make no further comment at this time.”

The Rabbitohs won back the Charity Shield with a dominant 42-24 win over the Dragons at Mudgee.

South Sydney’s big guns stole the show in the first half as the Dragons were exposed and blown off the park in four tries to nil beat down that saw the scoreboard read 26-0.

Not even a word from coach Anthony Griffin at half time could turn things around for the Dragons as their errors early in the second half seemed to pain the coach.

It wasn’t until the Rabbitohs took the foot off the gas — and the stars were taken off — in the second half did the Dragons finally show signs of life.