REVEALED: Payne Haas and Albert Kelly ‘copped it on the chin’ in groveling dressing room apology as Broncs pair await NRL Integrity Unit fate over video showing the giant prop allegedly hitting his five-eighth
- Payne Haas and Albert Kelly fronted up to their Brisbane team-mates last Friday
- The pair are under investigation after allegedly being involved in a fracas
- Kurt Capewell says the duo ‘copped it on the chin’ in their dressing room apology
- The NRL Integrity Unit is likely to reveal their findings later this week
Kurt Capewell has lifted the lid on how Payne Haas and Albert Kelly addressed their team-mates in the wake of ‘shoe-gate’, as the pair await their fate following their alleged scuffle.
The NRL Integrity Unit is expected to reveal their findings this week after a video allegedly showing the Broncos pair in a physical altercation emerged on social media.
The duo could miss this weekend’s clash with reigning premiers Penrith, with Kevin Walters desperate to arrest his side’s slump having lost their last three games in the competition.
Payne Haas (L) and Albert Kelly (R) ‘copped it on the chin’ after addressing team-mates following a video allegedly showing the pair in an altercation
The alleged clash is claimed to have kicked off after Kelly stepped on Haas’ sneakers. The Broncos have been in poor form ever since
Brisbane’s dressing room culture has been scrutinised after this latest incident – the 12th off-field drama involving the club’s players in the past three years, and Capewell has detailed how the pair fronted up after the scandal emerged.
‘The boys handled it really well,’ Capewell said of Haas and Kelly’s apology, issued prior to the Broncos’ defeat by Roosters last Friday night.
‘Payne and Alby stood up and apologised to everyone for their actions and copped it on the chin like they should have.
‘We moved forward as a group and it led to a pretty solid performance (against the Roosters).
Broncos star Kurt Capewell says the pair fronted up before Friday’s defeat against the Roosters
‘We didn’t read into that (criticism of Brisbane’s culture) too much.
‘It was built up a bit, but we know what type of culture we have at this club and what type of culture we are trying to drive.
‘We are trying to live up to those standards and we can hold our heads high.’
Walters will be left with a decimated engine room if Haas cops a suspension, and will likely turn to props Keenan Palasia and Ryan James in a pack directed by James Fisher-Harris.
Kevin Walters will learn of his duo’s fate when the NRL Integrity Unit releases its findings this week
Despite talk of a ban against the giant prop, Walters is optimistic his man will be available to face Penrith.
‘I’m not expecting that, no. We expect him (Haas) to play against the Panthers,’ he said.
‘Payne is a very strong character. The plan was to play him in the first 40 minutes and he got through that quickly.
‘Payne didn’t do a lot wrong in the video (of his clash with Kelly) and we are sticking by him and Albert. We need to get around them and make sure they are OK.’
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