NRL 2023: Integrity Unit investigate Parramatta Eels over alleged misbehaviour
The NRL Integrity unit is investigating alleged misbehaviour by Parramatta Eels players, after media representatives were subjected to bizarre cat and dog noises.
Dean Ritchie
NRL star Dylan Brown has case adjourned, remains free to play
Parramatta Eels’ player Dylan Brown remains free to play against the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs on Monday, June 12 after his lawyer disputed allegations from police that the NRL star had engaged in unsolicited sexual groping on a dancefloor.
The case was adjourned until June 28th after Mr Brown’s lawyer David Newham ventured the CCTV footage from the Golden Sheaf Hotel’s dancefloor did not support the police allegations which alleged five separate instances of sexual touching were directed at a woman unknown to the NRL star.
Magistrate Theo Tsavdaridis removed an existing ban on Mr Brown entering Double Bay, instead ruling him ineligible for entry to all licensed premises in the area.
The NRL's no-fault stand-down policy sees players who are charged with an 11-year maximum penalty ineligible for selection while Mr Brown's potential sentence remains at five years.
However, NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo possesses the ability to intervene and stand an offending player down if it is deemed necessary.
The NRL integrity unit is aware of alleged misbehaviour by
Parramatta players at a mandatory Eels media session on Wednesday which prompted skipper Clint Gutherson to step in and gag offending teammates.
Members of the media were interviewing senior forward Shaun Lane at the club’s Kellyville base on Wednesday, just hours after teammate
Dylan Brown faced court over charges of sexually touching a woman,
for which he was later subsequently stood down under the NRL’s no-fault stand-down policy.
However, some Parramatta players didn’t appear to understand the seriousness of the situation, making cat and dogs calls from inside the adjacent demountable buildings.
One player in the background was heard calling out “meow, meow, meow” in audio that was aired on Channel 7 on Wednesday night.
Some Parramatta officials heard the noises, which prompted Gutherson to step in and tell teammates to stop their taunting.
The players’ juvenile antics were picked up through the sound effect microphones of some media outlets. Channels 7, 10, 9 and Fox Sports were at the media opportunity, although representatives from the latter two organisations said they did not hear the players’ noises.
NRL CEO Andrew Abdo has been made aware of the players’ behaviour and the governing body reached out to several reporters on Wednesday night.
The NRL integrity contacted some of the journalists seeking further background. The journalists were told the integrity unit would contact the club requesting answers.
Although, it doesn’t appear the players’ noises were directed at the reporters, rather their teammates.
Parramatta’s media department representatives said they asked the offending players to quiet down.
One reporter at Kellyville said: “It was bizarre behaviour to be making cat and dog noises through the windows, especially given the serious nature of why we were there.
“It made everyone feel uncomfortable. We were unsure why it wasn’t addressed.”
Parramatta play Canterbury next Monday on the King’s Birthday holiday.
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