Kiwi stars add to NRL drugs drama

Cronulla chairman Damian Keogh and three high-profile NRL stars’ immediate futures hang in the balance after separate drug scandals across the representative round.

Keogh has already stepped down from his post at the Sharks, while the New Zealand Rugby League confirmed on Saturday they had been made aware of an alleged incident involving captain Jesse Jesse Bromwich and teammate Kevin Proctor following their Test loss to Australia in Canberra on Friday night.

It comes as ACT Police confirmed they had charged a man over the possession and supply of a drug of dependence, including to two current NRL players.

No one else has been arrested over the matter.

Both incidents came a night after Roosters centre Shaun Kenny-Dowall was charged over possession of an illicit drug in Sydney, believed to be cocaine.

The NRL are aware of all matters and the integrity unit are investigating, as chief executive Todd Greenberg put the onus squarely on players and officials to clean up their act.

“The game has taken steps over many years to highlight the risks associated with the use of illicit drugs,” he said.

“We will continue that work but ultimately individuals are accountable for their own choices, and the league’s capacity to eliminate the use of illicit drugs by its participants faces similar challenges to that faced by society.”

Keogh was arrested in Woolloomooloo on Friday night when he was allegedly found with a small resealable bag containing a quantity of white powder during a search.

He is due to face Downing Centre Local Court on June 30, and was in a distressed state on Saturday morning according to Cronulla chief executive Lyall Gorman.

“He expressed great remorse to me that he had let me down personally,” Gorman said.

“He’s very distressed and disappointed about potential outcomes on the game and the club.”

Gorman was also forced to defend allegations of a drug problem at the club after fullback Ben Barba was released at the end of last season after testing positive for a second time to cocaine.

“I don’t believe it is endemic at all,” Gorman said.

“If something like these allegations or other behavioural issues are endemic, you don’t achieve what our club has achieved over the past two-and-a-half years on and off the field.”

Meanwhile neither the Storm or the Titans were ready to make a call on their players on Saturday as investigations continued.

A spokesperson for ACT Police told AAP the man they charged on Friday night had allegedly supplied drugs to two players.

“ACT Policing attended an incident outside the Cube Nightclub early Saturday morning,” an ACT Police spokesperson said.

“A man was charged with possess and supply drug of dependence and faced the ACT Magistrates Court on Saturday 6 May.

“The charges include that he supplied drugs to two current NRL players.”

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