clontaago
First Grader
BRISBANE has terminated the contracts of NRL squad members Brett Seymour and Neville Costigan over their involvement in off-field incidents.
Halfback Seymour had recently been accused of head-butting a woman in a Brisbane pub while Costigan was this week charged by police with drink driving.
Broncos managing director Bruno Cullen said both players had been warned previously about their conduct.
He said they were advised of their contract terminations following a Broncos management meeting this morning.
Neither Seymour nor Costigan will play for the Broncos again this season, or the Broncos feeder club, the Toowoomba Clydesdales.
Both players had a year to run on their contracts.
"This is a very sad day for this great club, and the decision we have made was not taken lightly," Cullen said.
"However, enough is enough.
"As both an organisation and a sporting team, the Broncos is an integral part of the fabric of the Queensland community, and we do all that we can to fulfil our role within the community.
"At the Broncos we set high standards, and we expect those standards to be met.
"For that, I do not apologise.
"However, we also work with our players in various ways to prepare them to meet the challenges that we realise they will face."
Cullen said that both the NRL and the Broncos operated under a strict code of conduct, and he reiterated that players had to realise the consequences if they stepped outside the boundaries that were stringently laid down.
"Today's decision should not be viewed as a knee-jerk reaction," he said.
"We have a duty to demonstrate to our players, our staff, our corporate partners and our fans that we will not stand for unacceptable behaviour.
"I think it also important to point out that both Brett and Neville have been warned previously about their conduct, and I believe they should have been well aware of the consequences if they transgressed again.
"As a club, we can only tolerate so much."
Cullen said Costigan was charged by police in Brisbane on Monday night at The Gap in Brisbane's west.
He'll face court later this month charged with driving with a blood alcohol level of .13 - almost three times the legal limit.
Police are yet to lay charges against Seymour over the alleged incident involving him at the Regatta Hotel at Toowong.
The Broncos had already relegated Seymour to their Toowoomba side.
Costigan had been in the Broncos team to face NRL leader Melbourne at Suncorp Stadium on Sunday.
Halfback Seymour had recently been accused of head-butting a woman in a Brisbane pub while Costigan was this week charged by police with drink driving.
Broncos managing director Bruno Cullen said both players had been warned previously about their conduct.
He said they were advised of their contract terminations following a Broncos management meeting this morning.
Neither Seymour nor Costigan will play for the Broncos again this season, or the Broncos feeder club, the Toowoomba Clydesdales.
Both players had a year to run on their contracts.
"This is a very sad day for this great club, and the decision we have made was not taken lightly," Cullen said.
"However, enough is enough.
"As both an organisation and a sporting team, the Broncos is an integral part of the fabric of the Queensland community, and we do all that we can to fulfil our role within the community.
"At the Broncos we set high standards, and we expect those standards to be met.
"For that, I do not apologise.
"However, we also work with our players in various ways to prepare them to meet the challenges that we realise they will face."
Cullen said that both the NRL and the Broncos operated under a strict code of conduct, and he reiterated that players had to realise the consequences if they stepped outside the boundaries that were stringently laid down.
"Today's decision should not be viewed as a knee-jerk reaction," he said.
"We have a duty to demonstrate to our players, our staff, our corporate partners and our fans that we will not stand for unacceptable behaviour.
"I think it also important to point out that both Brett and Neville have been warned previously about their conduct, and I believe they should have been well aware of the consequences if they transgressed again.
"As a club, we can only tolerate so much."
Cullen said Costigan was charged by police in Brisbane on Monday night at The Gap in Brisbane's west.
He'll face court later this month charged with driving with a blood alcohol level of .13 - almost three times the legal limit.
Police are yet to lay charges against Seymour over the alleged incident involving him at the Regatta Hotel at Toowong.
The Broncos had already relegated Seymour to their Toowoomba side.
Costigan had been in the Broncos team to face NRL leader Melbourne at Suncorp Stadium on Sunday.
