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NRL news: Kalyn Ponga, Kurt Mann target-tested for illicit drugs in wake of toilet cubicle video
Knights stars Kalyn Ponga and Kurt Mann have been target-tested for illicit drugs by the NRL in the wake of their infamous “toilet cubicle” video.
David Riccio, Michael Carayannis, Peter Badel, Phil Rothfield and Brent Read
Knights stars Kalyn Ponga and Kurt Mann have been target-tested for illicit drugs by the NRL in the wake of their infamous “toilet cubicle” video.
Testing agents employed by the NRL were sent to Newcastle on Monday where Ponga and Mann were required to provide a urine sample.
As revealed on NRL360 on Fox League on Tuesday, the duo risk being banned under the NRL’s threestrike policy if they return a positive sample. The severity of any penalty depends on whether a positive sample is a first, second or third offence.
It’s been reported that Ponga was feeling ill, leading to Mann aiding his captain inside the cubicle.
Knights’ boss exposes lack of leadership at club
New
Knights head of football Peter Parr has taken aim at the playing group saying there has been a “lack of leadership” as he tries to repair the club’s woes on and off the field.
News Corp can reveal the
Knights will not strip Kalyn Ponga of the captaincy and will back the Maroons custodian to lead Newcastle out of their season of despair, which suffered another ruction with the toilet-cubicle revelations on Monday.
It can also be revealed Parr will read the riot act to the entire NRL squad following revelations players are turning up to training late and not wearing appropriate club uniform at all times.
The Knights who were still trying to deal with the fallout from the Ponga and Kurt Mann bathroom video were faced with another off-field problem on Tuesday when outside backs Enari Tuala and Bradman Best were stood-down for “not meeting team standards”.
The pair were axed from the NRL after being late for the team bus in Brisbane on Sunday. They will play NSW Cup this weekend.
“They were late for the team bus on Sunday morning,” Parr said. “They weren’t late by a long-period of time. They didn’t meet the standards necessary.”
That follows firebrand prop David Klemmer being suspended for one game earlier this month after an on-field run-in with a trainer.
The Knights will now await word from the NRL’s integrity unit before deciding upon what – if any – punishment will be handed down to Ponga and Mann.
Parr pointed to a widespread issue among the squad.
“There has been a lack of leadership around the playing group,” Parr said. “That’s not all on them.
“It’s a young group – just because you make someone a leader doesn’t mean they are going to grasp leadership straight away.”
Parr’s three non-negotiables during his time as Cowboys football boss were punctuality, dress standards and off-field conduct.
It is understood Knights staff have recently reported a number of infringements concerning players failing to wear the appropriate gear to training. There has also been some minor indiscretions relating to players either turning up late to training or rushing to be on time.
Mann, at the very least, is expected to be sanctioned for drinking alcohol while out of action with a soft tissue injury. The utility is due back for the final game of the season.
Parr said the situation for Ponga – who won’t play again this season because of repeated concussions – was not as clear cut
“(There was) no direction given to Kalyn that he shouldn’t drink,” Parr said. “We haven’t discussed any punishment yet. We don’t have to make any decisions on that yet. The process hasn’t been finalised.”
The one certainty is Parr will back Ponga. The duo first struck up professional ties during the full-back’s tenure at the Cowboys and Parr believes the 24-year-old can develop into the type of leader that made Johnathan Thurston a premiership-winning champion in Townsville.
The Cowboys board wanted to sack Thurston in 2010 following an off-field incident but Parr and then chairman Laurence Lancini fought to save the playmaker.
He responded by leading the Cowboys to the 2015 premiership, and Parr believes Ponga, with the support of the Knights, can spearhead a similar revival in the Steel City.
“ (Thurston) was appointed very young and had some bumps early but turned out to be one of the best leaders in the game,” Parr said.
It is understood Best and Tuala were just six minutes late and had to catch a taxi to the airport to link back up with their teammates.
