NRL investigating potential breach by James Roberts on Gold Coast

The NRL is investigating a potential breach of the Queensland government’s no-balcony directive by Wests Tigers centre James Roberts on the Gold Coast.

James Roberts on the Gold Coast. Picture: Nigel Hallett

The NRL’s fragile existence in Queensland is again under threat after it emerged that Wests Tigers centre James Roberts had been caught breaching state health directives.

Roberts was captured on the balcony of his Gold Coast hotel on Tuesday in breach of the Queensland government’s no-balcony directive by photographers who were camped outside the venue, hoping to strike paydirt by snapping someone doing the wrong thing.

The photographs were offered for a price to media outlets and finished in the hands of the Seven Network, whereupon the NRL became aware of the alleged breach.

The NRL integrity unit launched an immediate investigation, the latest incident taking place less than a week after Queensland chief health officer Jeannette Young warned another breach could prompt the government to evict the code from the state.

The NRL confirmed the integrity unit was aware of claims against Roberts – who flew to Queensland after the rest of his team because he was a close contact of someone who had contracted Covid-19. He now faces being sent home and potentially frozen out of the competition for the remainder of the year given the danger his actions have presented to the entire competition.

“The NRL has reported a breach of the current balcony directive to Queensland Health,” the NRL said in a statement.

“The NRL and Wests Tigers is providing James Roberts with additional wellbeing support to assist him in coping with quarantine and will continue to work closely with Queensland Health.”

Wests Tigers chair Lee Hagipantelis added: “We are aware of the incident as is the NRL and integrity unit. The club is working with the NRL and Queensland state government.”

It is understood Roberts had just finished a gym session when he wandered onto the balcony to get a towel. The former NSW State of Origin centre, who is off contract at the end of the year, has struggled with mental health issues in recent years and it is believed he was battling with the restrictive conditions placed on nearly 500 players, officials and family members, who flew north last week.

Those conditions have become even more onerous in recent days after footage emerged of people sharing milk across balconies. That prompted the Queensland government to demand that anyone in the quarantine hotel taped their balcony doors shut.

They also warned that the code was on its last chance given recent events. NSW and Penrith hooker Api Koroisau is currently serving a suspension from the NRL after he was found to have breached biosecurity rules during the State of Origin series in Queensland.

Queensland and South Sydney forward Jai Arrow has only just returned from a ban after he was found to have breached biosecurity rules while in camp with the Maroons. Arrow and Koroisau are expected to be banned from next year’s Origin series due to their breaches.

With the code on the brink, paparazzi have camped themselves outside the quarantine hotel in the hope of catching someone out. It is understood some have even booked rooms in neighbouring hotels in the hope of landing a shot.

Roberts has answered their call, leaving the NRL scrambling to assuage the concerns of the Queensland government as they fight to keep the competition alive. Their job has just become more difficult, although the Queensland government also have much to lose should they take a hard line stance against the NRL.

The game is only a fortnight or so away from making a decision over the future of the grand final, which seems unlikely to be played in Sydney this year given the current Covid-19 situation in the state.

Suncorp Stadium is a short-priced favourite to host the season finale, although the Victorian government is also expected to bid for the biggest game of the NRL season.

As it stands, the NRL owes the Queensland government a debt of gratitude. That may change if they evict the code from the state.