Bromwich steps down as NZ captain
Jesse Bromwich has stood down as Kiwis captain and will miss two Melbourne Storm NRL matches, as he apologised for his ‘‘poor choices’’ in Canberra on Saturday morning.
Bromwich and team-mate Kevin Proctor both spoke for the first time yesterday, neither denying allegations they took cocaine after their heavy test defeat to the Kangaroos.
Now senior Kiwis players will be involved in a group who will decide the fate of the disgraced pair, with suspension from this year’s Rugby League World Cup not ruled out.
In a statement via the Storm, Bromwich will step down from the Kiwis and Storm leadership groups, be sidelined for two NRL matches, donate his test fee to charity and undergo counselling.
‘‘I regret making the choice of staying out with my team-mates until the early hours of Saturday morning, as well as consuming an excessive amount of alcohol,’’ Bromwich said.
‘‘I take full responsibility for the poor choices I made. I am devastated and my actions were out of character.
‘‘Playing footy for Melbourne Storm and the Kiwis is a great honour and I apologise for letting down everyone involved in both organisations.’’
New Zealand Rugby League chief executive Alex Hayton expressed his disappointment during a tele-conference yesterday but declined to say what sanctions the players would face, citing the need for further investigation.
‘‘We have not determined what sanctions will be imposed on either player.’’
However, Hayton did not rule out the pair missing the World Cup or Bromwich losing his captaincy role. Kiwis team management, senior players, key NZRL staff and the board will decide the sanctions.
Hayton confirmed the players did not tell the NZRL about the incident and that they learned about it through the media.
‘‘The players did not approach management when they had their recovery session on the Saturday morning before departing.’’
Proctor has stepped down as cocaptain of the Gold Coast Titans and will meet with the club’s board this week.
"After the game we went back to the New Zealand team hotel and had a late dinner. After the dinner we went to a local club to have a few drinks. The rest of the night is a bit of a blur as I obviously had too much to drink before the incident,’’ Proctor said.
‘‘Although I can’t remember exactly what happened, I don’t deny it. I am devastated by the whole thing and can’t apologise enough to my Kiwi team-mates, the NRL, the Titans and all fans of the game.
‘‘I’ve never been in this sort of trouble in my career, I have never failed a drug test, and I’m so sorry I’ve let everyone down by losing control of my personal decisions by drinking too much alcohol.
‘‘I accept that there will be further punishment from my club and the NRL, and I just want to put this all behind me as quickly as possible and prove I can make it up to everyone.’’
Kiwis coach David Kidwell said he was disappointed to hear of the accusations when he appeared on Channel Nine’s Sunday Footy Show.
‘‘If the allegations are true . . . the actions of those players, it’s not part of what we’re trying to build in the Kiwi camp,’’ he said on the show. ‘‘The whole of our rugby league sport has taken a hit with the integrity.’’
It was a similar message from Hayton. ‘‘I am extremely disappointed,’’ he said. ‘‘This has a wider implication. In our own domestic game here we do drug education and we try and work