Dragons COVID Breach
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Cappuccino
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oh shit
Jack de Belin is the latest Dragons player to be fined $1000 after being caught out attending the party at the home of teammate Paul Vaughan.
In a concerning twist, sources have told The Daily Telegraph the team from the NRL’s integrity unit worked through the night on Sunday interviewing those who were at the party and it is understood that is how they happened to stumble upon the claims relating to de Belin’s attendance.
De Belin was not on the initial list of 12 St George Illawarra players slapped with $1000 Penalty Infringement Notices on Sunday afternoon.
There is now an investigation going on as to why his name was not among the initial players named.
It has already been alleged neighbours spotted other players quickly leaving after police arrived.
The NRL is still working through interviews and hopes to have the investigation finalised by the close of business on Monday.
Peter V’landys said the brazen Covid breach has the potential to bring the entire game of rugby league to a grinding halt.
The ARL Commission chairman has lashed out at the players who copped a $1000 fine from the NSW Police for attending the barbecue at the home of prop Paul Vaughan on Saturday night.
Jack de Belin has been fined along with 12 Dragons teammates. Picture: Jonathan Ng
It is understood Vaughan and his wife Ellie, Corey Norman, Zac Lomax, Josh McGuire, Jack Bird, Kaide Ellis, Blake Lawrie, Matt Dufty, Daniel Alvaro, Tyrell Fuimaono, Gerard Beale and Josh Kerr were the 13 people who received Penalty Infringement Notices from police on Sunday. De Belin was fined by police on Monday.
V’landys would not pre-empt any punishment as he awaits the NRL integrity unit to complete its investigation, as players continued to be interviewed on Sunday night.
But he vowed: “I am frustrated and that will turn to anger if it causes any damage to the game, especially with other state governments.”
And he said it wasn’t just the livelihoods of the players in danger.
“It not only affects their own incomes but it affects the incomes off all their fellow players, and not only their fellow players but the players into the future,” he added.
The NRL are set to look into the actions of a number of Dragons players on Saturday night.
“Because if the game suffers financially it means that we will have less to pay in the future. What they have to appreciate is they are not only risking themselves. You are risking the whole game and you are risking every other player in the game.”
NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo said news players had breached the law and the league’s biosecurity rules in such a brazen fashion had left him “gutted”.
The Daily Telegraph understands neighbours called police about 9pm on Saturday to report the party on Wollongong Rd in Shellharbour, at the home of Vaughan, 30.
Moments after officers arrived, neighbours saw a number of people “running” from the home, but Vaughan and five teammates remained inside, while police sources say they found Norman’s wallet sitting on the barbecue, but he was nowhere to be seen.
Under the current Covid restrictions in place, visitors are not allowed to homes across Greater Sydney.
It is also a breach of the NRL’s current Level 4 Biosecurity Protocols which ban players leaving home unless training, playing or “completing an essential household task”, with Abdo saying he and V’landys would now have to consider punishments, which could include large fines or even suspensions.
Players apparently attended a party at Paul Vaughan’s house.
If all players at the home were made to isolate for 14 days it would severely impact the Dragons’ ability to field a side in their post-bye clash with Manly on July 14, which would be 12 days after the potential breach.
“I am extremely disappointed,” Abdo said.
“There is so much at stake and there are so many people adhering to very, very strict protocols to keep the competition safe and to keep the community safe and to keep the competition going.
“And depending on what the facts are that come out in the investigation, but if it is in fact just a clear breach of our protocols, I am extremely disappointed, frustrated and to be honest, I am gutted”.
Zac Lomax was one of the players caught at the party.
Fresh off an extraordinary golden point victory over the New Zealand Warriors on Friday night, the Dragons group is believed to have gathered for a barbecue and to watch the Saturday night NRL games. Eyewitnesses said people began arriving at Vaughan’s home about 3.30pm carrying slabs of beer.
When police knocked on the door more than six hours later it is understood Ellie Vaughan answered, with officers finding her husband inside with Lomax, McGuire, Ellis and Lawrie.
Some in the group are understood to have initially claimed they did not know they had broken any rules.
But neighbours said shortly after police entered a number of men and women could be seen “scampering” out a side door of the home and “running” off down the street.
Corey Norman’s wallet was allegedly found on a BBQ. Picture: NRL Photos
“It wasn’t like they were playing music or being overly obvious, but as the night wore on they got louder and louder,” one resident said.
“The police arrived some time after 9pm and suddenly there were a lot of people running down the street, scampering out of the house.
“Maybe they were celebrating their great win and it didn’t bother us, but I think people are a little testy at the moment and it was almost as if it’s one rule for NRL players and another rule for the rest of us.”
It’s not Vaughan’s first Covid drama. Last August, he was forced to undergo 14 days in isolation after breaching the NRL’s ‘bubble’ by visiting a café ahead of a Dragons’ game against the Sydney Roosters.
Then coach Paul McGregor called Vaughan’s behaviour “selfish”.
Jack de Belin is the latest Dragons player to be fined $1000 after being caught out attending the party at the home of teammate Paul Vaughan.
In a concerning twist, sources have told The Daily Telegraph the team from the NRL’s integrity unit worked through the night on Sunday interviewing those who were at the party and it is understood that is how they happened to stumble upon the claims relating to de Belin’s attendance.
De Belin was not on the initial list of 12 St George Illawarra players slapped with $1000 Penalty Infringement Notices on Sunday afternoon.
There is now an investigation going on as to why his name was not among the initial players named.
It has already been alleged neighbours spotted other players quickly leaving after police arrived.
The NRL is still working through interviews and hopes to have the investigation finalised by the close of business on Monday.
Peter V’landys said the brazen Covid breach has the potential to bring the entire game of rugby league to a grinding halt.
The ARL Commission chairman has lashed out at the players who copped a $1000 fine from the NSW Police for attending the barbecue at the home of prop Paul Vaughan on Saturday night.
Jack de Belin has been fined along with 12 Dragons teammates. Picture: Jonathan Ng
It is understood Vaughan and his wife Ellie, Corey Norman, Zac Lomax, Josh McGuire, Jack Bird, Kaide Ellis, Blake Lawrie, Matt Dufty, Daniel Alvaro, Tyrell Fuimaono, Gerard Beale and Josh Kerr were the 13 people who received Penalty Infringement Notices from police on Sunday. De Belin was fined by police on Monday.
V’landys would not pre-empt any punishment as he awaits the NRL integrity unit to complete its investigation, as players continued to be interviewed on Sunday night.
But he vowed: “I am frustrated and that will turn to anger if it causes any damage to the game, especially with other state governments.”
And he said it wasn’t just the livelihoods of the players in danger.
“It not only affects their own incomes but it affects the incomes off all their fellow players, and not only their fellow players but the players into the future,” he added.
The NRL are set to look into the actions of a number of Dragons players on Saturday night.
“Because if the game suffers financially it means that we will have less to pay in the future. What they have to appreciate is they are not only risking themselves. You are risking the whole game and you are risking every other player in the game.”
NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo said news players had breached the law and the league’s biosecurity rules in such a brazen fashion had left him “gutted”.
The Daily Telegraph understands neighbours called police about 9pm on Saturday to report the party on Wollongong Rd in Shellharbour, at the home of Vaughan, 30.
Moments after officers arrived, neighbours saw a number of people “running” from the home, but Vaughan and five teammates remained inside, while police sources say they found Norman’s wallet sitting on the barbecue, but he was nowhere to be seen.
Under the current Covid restrictions in place, visitors are not allowed to homes across Greater Sydney.
It is also a breach of the NRL’s current Level 4 Biosecurity Protocols which ban players leaving home unless training, playing or “completing an essential household task”, with Abdo saying he and V’landys would now have to consider punishments, which could include large fines or even suspensions.
Players apparently attended a party at Paul Vaughan’s house.
If all players at the home were made to isolate for 14 days it would severely impact the Dragons’ ability to field a side in their post-bye clash with Manly on July 14, which would be 12 days after the potential breach.
“I am extremely disappointed,” Abdo said.
“There is so much at stake and there are so many people adhering to very, very strict protocols to keep the competition safe and to keep the community safe and to keep the competition going.
“And depending on what the facts are that come out in the investigation, but if it is in fact just a clear breach of our protocols, I am extremely disappointed, frustrated and to be honest, I am gutted”.
Zac Lomax was one of the players caught at the party.
Fresh off an extraordinary golden point victory over the New Zealand Warriors on Friday night, the Dragons group is believed to have gathered for a barbecue and to watch the Saturday night NRL games. Eyewitnesses said people began arriving at Vaughan’s home about 3.30pm carrying slabs of beer.
When police knocked on the door more than six hours later it is understood Ellie Vaughan answered, with officers finding her husband inside with Lomax, McGuire, Ellis and Lawrie.
Some in the group are understood to have initially claimed they did not know they had broken any rules.
But neighbours said shortly after police entered a number of men and women could be seen “scampering” out a side door of the home and “running” off down the street.
Corey Norman’s wallet was allegedly found on a BBQ. Picture: NRL Photos
“It wasn’t like they were playing music or being overly obvious, but as the night wore on they got louder and louder,” one resident said.
“The police arrived some time after 9pm and suddenly there were a lot of people running down the street, scampering out of the house.
“Maybe they were celebrating their great win and it didn’t bother us, but I think people are a little testy at the moment and it was almost as if it’s one rule for NRL players and another rule for the rest of us.”
It’s not Vaughan’s first Covid drama. Last August, he was forced to undergo 14 days in isolation after breaching the NRL’s ‘bubble’ by visiting a café ahead of a Dragons’ game against the Sydney Roosters.
Then coach Paul McGregor called Vaughan’s behaviour “selfish”.
Cappuccino
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What about Norman? Leaving his wallet on the BBQ then legging it haha
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this story gets better & better.
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Who the fuck even carries a wallet anymore?!
Cappuccino
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Well somethings gotta go in their man bags besides cocaine
KambahOne
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Hahaha that is gold plated retarded.
El Padrino
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Vaughan $50k fine and suspended 8 weeks.
So much for his ‘meh’ to his neighbour.
Expensive BBQ.
And De Belin - after all he’s been though - was involved and $42k fine.
Absolute Dopes.
Zero sympathy.
'G'
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The NRL has announced hefty fines and bans for the 13 St George Illawarra players who breached the game's biosecurity protocols when they attended a gathering at prop Paul Vaughan's house.
Vaughan has been issued with an eight-match suspension and a $50,000 fine for inviting 12 players to his home in Shellharbour on Saturday, in breach of NSW Public Health Orders and the game’s biosecurity protocols.
The NRL alleged a number of players hid or fled the residence when NSW Police attended the home after complaints from neighbours.
It’s also alleged that a number of players gave or were involved in giving misleading information about the event during the NRL’s investigation into the breaches and that some of the players conspired to withhold key information from the NRL.
The notices allege that all players involved knowingly breached the game’s biosecurity rules by attending the premeditated gathering. They were made aware of the game’s biosecurity protocols by the club and admit they knew they were breaching the game’s rules.
Vaughan has previously been sanctioned by the NRL for breaches of the biosecurity rules in 2020.
The proposed sanctions for all other players who attended the gathering include one-match suspensions and fines. The total fines for all players amount to $305,000.
Players serving one-match suspensions will be split across a minimum of two and a maximum of four rounds to ensure the Dragons have enough players available to field a squad each week.
The fines take into account past indiscretions and the varying salaries of the players.
“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.”
The players have five business days to respond to the breach notices.
Vaughan has been issued with an eight-match suspension and a $50,000 fine for inviting 12 players to his home in Shellharbour on Saturday, in breach of NSW Public Health Orders and the game’s biosecurity protocols.
The NRL alleged a number of players hid or fled the residence when NSW Police attended the home after complaints from neighbours.
It’s also alleged that a number of players gave or were involved in giving misleading information about the event during the NRL’s investigation into the breaches and that some of the players conspired to withhold key information from the NRL.
The notices allege that all players involved knowingly breached the game’s biosecurity rules by attending the premeditated gathering. They were made aware of the game’s biosecurity protocols by the club and admit they knew they were breaching the game’s rules.
Vaughan has previously been sanctioned by the NRL for breaches of the biosecurity rules in 2020.
The proposed sanctions for all other players who attended the gathering include one-match suspensions and fines. The total fines for all players amount to $305,000.
Players serving one-match suspensions will be split across a minimum of two and a maximum of four rounds to ensure the Dragons have enough players available to field a squad each week.
The fines take into account past indiscretions and the varying salaries of the players.
- 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 $5000
- Matt Dufty $23,000
- Paul Vaughan - $50,000
- Tyrell Fuimaono - $12,000
- Zac Lomax $31,000
- Jack de Belin - $42,000
- Gerard Beale $2000
“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.”
The players have five business days to respond to the breach notices.
Cappuccino
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DeBelin fine is 42k lol
fuck hes having a good couple of years isnt he
fuck hes having a good couple of years isnt he
2144superman
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Vaughan getting breached twice is ridiculous behaviour and he deserves every week of his suspension. He risked the whole comp being suspended. Idiot
Dogmonster
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Jack de Belin hiding under a bed. Lol, was he waiting there to get lucky later perhaps.
UndeadShadowMan
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Double standard bullshit why wasn't the club fined? We got hit with a 50k fine for far less
Disposable Hero
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Club took the hit for our players. Said they had not properly relayed the correct information. Club got fined for this indiscretion. Players got small fines.
St Merge club said the players knew the rules as they had informed them and ignored the rules. Players got huge fines.
B-Train
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So why the fuck was our club fined 50k when 12 of their players were involved and Saints don't get a fine? Clearly they didn't "properly educate their players" either.
Once again the double standards and lack of consistency come as no surprise and as usual our club gets the harshest punishment.
Once again the double standards and lack of consistency come as no surprise and as usual our club gets the harshest punishment.