Bulldogs pair hit by bans

PARRAMATTA coach Brad Arthur says the Canterbury Bulldogs won’t use the absence of Corey Harawira-Naera and Jayden Okunbor as an excuse when the NRL season kicks off tonight.

The Canterbury pair have been stood down from all team activities by the NRL club, with chief executive Andrew Hill confirming they are being investigated for allegedly bringing teenage girls back to their hotel after a school visit in Port Macquarie last month.

The alleged incident reportedly occurred on a trip to Port Macquarie for a trial match and was brought to the club’s attention last Friday.

Hill said the pair would not be training or involved at the club while the investigation continued, after they were handed breach notices by the NRL.

“I can confirm that the breaches do relate to players bringing young females of a consensual age back to the team hotel,” Hill said.

“While neither player is the subject of a current police investigation, these are very concerning matters that the club is treating seriously.

“The conduct not only breaches the club’s code of conduct, it is not reflective of the standards and values we have tried to instil into our players.

“We have been very conscious through our review of these allegations over the past few days to do everything we could to protect the identity and welfare of the girls involved.”

The Eels have won six of their past eight matches against the Bulldogs but Arthur expects a tough test from Dean Pay’s visiting team.

“They are tough, they are a team that’s hard to beat – we’ve seen that at the back end of last year,” Arthur said.

“I think players are pretty resilient and clubs are resilient.

“Sometimes the players will come together and band together. We’ve had a couple of incidents in the past before Round 1.

“It’s an excuse if you want it to be. I’m sure the Bulldogs won’t be using it as an excuse.”

Having reached the semifinals last year, the Eels are tipped to be among the contenders in 2020.

Arthur said his roster was stronger than last year’s.

“We’re looking to improve. It’s important that the style of footy you want to play, you develop it early,” he said.