Fifita given the all clear over Bali
THE NRL has opted not to suspend or fine rising Broncos star David Fifita for his Bali bust-up.
Fifita has been cleared to play in Round 1 of the NRL season after a six-week investigation by the NRL Integrity Unit.
The 19-year-old was locked up in a Bali jail for three days last month following an alleged incident involving a nightclub security guard.
The Broncos sent a club employee to Bali to broker his release, before Fifita reached a “peace agreement” with his alleged victim.
The ordeal has cost Fifita at least $30,000 in legal fees and the Broncos claim to have not contributed financially.
Fifita was expected to be sanctioned, but the game’s investigators ruled that no further action be taken.
“The NRL’s Integrity Unit says evidence relating to the incident outside a Bali nightclub was inconclusive,” an NRL statement said.
“The NRL said it was satisfied that the actions of the Broncos club were appropriate in the circumstances.”
NRL chief executive Todd Greenberg said it was important for the game to make evidence-based decisions about player behaviour.
“In this case, after analysing a multitude of evidence, we cannot say with certainty that a breach has occurred,” he said.
Brisbane CEO Paul White welcomed the NRL’s decision and said the Broncos would not be handing down any clubbased penalty to Fifita.
“We trust David’s version of events in that he did not commit an assault,” White said.