The Brisbane Broncos have been slapped with $150,000 in fines after 10 players breached biosecurity protocols by having lunch at a pub.
The NRL has strict social distancing rules to protect the competition during the Covid-19 pandemic and the Broncos players fell foul of them by dining at Brisbane's Everton Park Hotel this month.
A police investigation cleared the players of breaching Queensland state's social distancing rules, but the NRL said the Broncos were not permitted to sit in pubs or gaming areas.
However, they could have avoided the sanction if they had dined at a restaurant or a cafe, the NRL said.
The Broncos, second-bottom of the standings after 11 losses from their last 12 games, have become repeat offenders in breaking Covid-19 protocols.
Broncos head coach Anthony Seibold is self-isolating after he left the team's bubble this month to deal with a personal matter.
Reuters
