The rugby league community has blasted the "arrogant" St George Illawarra Dragons players who willingly breached the league's biosecurity protocols in Shellharbour over the weekend.
On Monday, the NRL handed down a whopping $305,000 in fines after forward Paul Vaughan hosted a party in breach of the league's Level 4Biosecurity Protocols and the state government's stay-at-home order.
NSW Police were alerted to the house party after a noise complaint from neighbours.
It subsequently emerged Vaughan hosted teammates Blake Lawrie, Corey Norman, Daniel Alvaro, Jack Bird, Josh Kerr, Josh McGuire, Kaide Ellis, Matthey Dufty, Tyrell Fuimaono, Zac Lomax, Jack de Belin and Gerard Beale.
Some Dragons players allegedly attempted to flee the scene or hide on the premises when the police arrived.
NSW Police were alerted to the party at prop Paul Vaughan's home after a noise complaint from neighbours. Now 13 players have been fined. Photo / Getty Images
"That didn't come to light, I believe, until later. And there was an attempted cover-up there to try and hide Jack."
The Daily Telegraph's Phil Rothfield added: "I'd heard that a couple of players hid in cupboards."
Channel 9's Danny Weidler reported that de Belin told the club he was "walking his dog" in the vicinity of the party.
NRL community fumes at Covid mess
Rugby league icon Paul Vautin told WWOS Radio: "These blokes are d***heads, it's all you can say."
AAP reporter Scott Bailey tweeted: "There are people in this city who haven't been able to see loved ones' last days because of this lockdown. A BBQ is not a good enough excuse."
Rugby league journalist Pam Whaley posted: "What I can't understand is the idiocy and arrogance from these players. Infuriating. Hope Dragons officials go hard."
Sensible punishment from the NRL re Dragons players. Staggering the suspensions is out of the box thinking, but so is the situation.
My gut feeling is Paul Vaughan has played his last game for @NRL_Dragons. There was speculation around his future prior to latest issue. Hearing sanctions not far away. Expecting mass suspensions and fines. @aus_sport
Last year, Vaughan was stood down for two weeks after visiting a cafe while biosecurity bubble regulations were being enforced.
The 30-year-old has this week copped a monster $50,000 fine – the maximum financial penalty that can be handed down by the NRL to a player – and an eight-week suspension for his latest Covid breach.
"Paul Vaughan's clinging on by the skin of his teeth," Fox Sports reporter James Hooper said on Monday.
"There's no question whatsoever tearing up his contract is going to be discussed."
NRL 360 presenter Yvonne Sampson said: "Given his track record now, with two severe breaches in the biosecurity (protocols), it's likely that he could've played his last game for the Dragons.
Hooper replied: "It's every chance."
Meanwhile, de Belin copped heavy criticism from the NRL 360 panel for deliberately threatening the competition's safety just four weeks after returning to the sport after a lengthy absence.
"With Jack de Belin again front and centre of a scandal for this club, is he worth the risk? Is he worth the hassle that comes along with Jack de Belin … for your culture?" Sampson asked on NRL 360.
Kent replied: "He's four games back into a career that he'd been two-and-a-half years out of.
"And already he's put himself in this place, with a $42,000 fine and a suspension."
Rothfield bluntly said: "Their culture stinks. When you put de Belin in with Vaughan and you throw Corey Norman into the mix – the three of them there is bad, bad news for St George.
"They need to do something about that."
Kent responded: "Their season's in jeopardy here."
NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo accused the players of deliberately putting the continuity of the competition at risk.
"In our view the actions of the players were deliberate and some of the players withheld key information from the Integrity Unit," he said.
"On the information we have, the players understood the protocols and deliberately chose to ignore them, they chose to risk the continuity of our competition. The sanctions handed down today puts every player in the game on notice, particularly repeat offenders – this sort of conduct will not be tolerated.
"There are many people working incredibly hard to keep the competition going – it's a privilege to play football, not a right. We've made promises to the community and to state governments and we will do everything we can to honour those promises. I want to stress that there are almost 900 players and officials following strict biosecurity measures and the overwhelming number are doing the right thing, as they did last year.
"We will continue to work with all clubs and state governments to ensure compliance, the health and safety of the community, our players and officials the continuity of the competition."
Dragons chief executive Ryan Webb blasted the 13 guilty players for their "arrogance and ignorance", describing the situation as "upsetting and infuriating".
"All 13 players have let the rest of their teammates, the entirety of our hardworking staff, their families, the wider community and most importantly our Red V members, partners and fans, down," Webb said in a statement.
"The entire club and our stakeholders will now be punished as a result of the combined 20-week suspension procured between the 13 players.
"The Dragons hold no reservations over the punishments handed down by the NRL Integrity Unit or NSW Police given the players' complete disregard for both the game and community's expectations."
The Dragons are scheduled for a bye in Round 17 – they will next face the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles at Brookvale Oval on Friday, July 16.
Fines for the Dragons' Covid-19 breaches Blake Lawrie – $20,000 Corey Norman – $50,000 Daniel Alvaro – $15,000 Jack Bird – $25,000 Josh Kerr – $18,000 Josh McGuire – $12,000 Kaide Ellis – $5,000 Matt Dufty – $23,000 Paul Vaughan – $50,000 Tyrell Fuimaono – $12,000 Zac Lomax – $31,000 Jack de Belin – $42,000 Gerard Beale – $2,000
