Corey Harawira-Naera and Jayden Okunbor were stood down earlier this year in relation to allegedly bringing young females of a consensual age back to the team hotel.
Whilst confirming the seriousness of the breaches, the NRL Appeals Committee varied the NRL’s determination to cancel each player’s registration and imposed alternate sanctions, being:
Mr Okunbor to be suspended for 14 Matches, pay a fine of $22,500 and undergo such course of counselling or community service as the NRL CEO may direct;
Mr Harawira-Naera to be suspended for 10 Matches and to pay a fine of $15,000.
“The NRL took the action which it considered necessary given the serious breaches of the Code of Conduct – breaches the Appeals Committee also found to be serious,” said NRL Acting CEO Andrew Abdo.
“The independent appeals committee has taken a different view on what penalty the players should face and although we are disappointed, we respect the outcome.”
A spokesperson for the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs said they are now working with the NRL to determine how this process will be implemented and will await further advice from the NRL on the next stage.
Bulldogs pair handed lifeline
Two Bulldogs players who were deregistered for a serious breach of the NRL’s code of conduct earlier this year have been handed lifelines with a successful appeal.
