Bulldogs duo Jayden Okunbor and Corey Harawira-Naera suspended over alleged breaches

The NRL has been rocked by another sex scandal on the eve of the code’s season opener with two Canterbury players stood down.

Bulldogs players Jayden Okunbor and Corey Harawira-Naera have been provisionally suspended by the NRL.

The NRL has been rocked by yet another sex scandal on the eve of the code’s season opener with two Canterbury players sensationally stood down amid claims they had sex with two schoolgirls.

Corey Harawira-Naera and Jayden Okunbor were due to be named in the Bulldogs side to play the Eels at Bankwest Stadium on Thursday night but will not play.

The incidents allegedly took place at the team hotel during the club’s visit to Port Macquarie for a trial game last month. It is understood the two females are above the age of consent and the sex was consensual.

There is no criminal investigation into the matter. But Canterbury officials have ruled the two players breached the club’s and the NRL’s code of conduct.

The scandal is a horrible blow to the NRL ahead a massive season kick-off between the fierce western Sydney rivals at what is expected to be a sold out Bankwest Stadium.

The NRL is furious the claims have tarnished the season’s opening blockbuster.

Harawira-Naera and Okunbor have been issued show cause notices by the NRL and could face further disciplinary action.

The Australian has been told the two players met the students during a school visit to promote the club’s trial match against Canberra.

Sources claim the alleged sexual encounters were revealed after the women spoke of the incident on a group app.

The parents of both teenagers were told of the claims.

Most NRL clubs forbid women from visiting team hotels on away trips.

The Port Macquarie school where the girls attend has also been made aware.

The incidents could not have come at a worse time for the Bulldogs, who were closing in on securing a major jersey sponsor for 2020.

Bulldogs coach Dean Pay is expected to hold a press conference on Wednesday morning to discuss the behaviour of his two players. In the club’s statement, CEO Andrew Hill said: “While neither player is the subject of a criminal investigation, the club is treating the matter very seriously. The allegations are that each player engaged in behaviour that represents a serious breach of the NRL rules and the Bulldogs’ code of conduct.’’

It was an unwanted headache for NRL chief executive Todd Greenberg as he worries about the coronavirus, which has already hijacked sportes around the world and has left the NRL on red alert.

The game has already put in place a series of measures to combat the threat of the disease, sending out a missive urging players to make hygiene a premium.

Greenberg acknowledged his hope that the game would not be forced to lockout fans, as has happened across Europe given the spread of the disease overseas.

“I certainly hope not,” he said. “I think that would be pretty sad for fans and players. I hope it doesn’t get to that. We need calm, cool heads at the moment and obviously listen to the experts’ advice. We certainly hope we don’t get to that point. We will listen to that advice and if we have to act, we will.”

The NRL season-opener is expected to be watched by more than 25,000 spectators. The fears is that the game will be forced to close its doors to fans, leaving clubs and the NRL scrambling to deal with a gaping financial hole.

The Daily Telegraph