Brisbane CEO Dave Donaghy has issued a warning to the club's playing roster about misbehavior in the wake of yet another off-field incident, per a report from The Courier Mail.
The misconduct of Broncos players once again made news following reports that Kiwi-born teenager TC Robati had been issued with a summons to appear in court this week after dangerously operating a motor vehicle.
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Robati's brush with the law is now the third such episode within the space of a fortnight having arisen after Thomas Flegler and Jordan Riki's alcohol fuelled stoush and outgoing playmaker Anthony Milford's arrest following an alleged assault.
RELATED: Milford details reportedly revealed after arrest
Brisbane have also been linked with a spate of other similar acts across the past 12 months, including the suspension of Tesi Niu's driving license and Kotoni Staggs perrenial poor behaviour beyond the playing field's bounds.
Such behaviour from a playing group had previously been unfamiliar to Donaghy who had spent the past five-seasons leading the routinely well-behaved Melbourne Storm side.
With the former powerhouse club desperately seeking to once again rise to prominence, Donaghy stated that the Red Hill franchise would need to mature.
โIโm incredibly disappointed with how the last few weeks have unfolded,โ Donaghy said.
โIf we are fair dinkum about being a world-class sporting organisation, we canโt just talk the talk, we need to walk the walk and thatโs everyone.
โWe have reported our matters to the NRL integrity unit and the players understand how disappointed I am with whatโs happened in recent weeks.
โIt (improving the individual) is something I am passionate about and it will be an enormous focus for us moving forward.โ
Despite managing to part with the wooden spoon this season, there is still plenty of work ahead of the Broncos before a return to the September action is on the cards.
Having signed senior names in Adam Reynolds, Kurt Capewell and Ryan James ahead of the 2022 season, Brisbane have begun to alleviate the dearth of leaders on their roster.
Still, Donaghy was of the view that on-field performances were one things, but sullying the club's name away from Suncorp Stadium was another.
The former journalist continued by tellingย The Courier Mail'sย Peter Badel that although he had planted his flag over the issue, the franchise was still making real moves to halt any further erosion of their brand.
โWe will keep putting good people in place,โ he said.
โWe will be investing in support services available for players.
โWe have committed to that and we think that is an area we can address.
โAdam Walsh [Broncos welfare chief] is very good at what he does and he has spoken to us about the need to increase resourcing and investment to support cultural change, so that we develop not just good footballers, but wonderful people."
Like fellow non-finalists, Brisbane are expected to commence their pre-season program in the coming months, and you can be sure that Donaghy has every finger and toe crossed that his roster remains off the front page until then.
