36 SPORT THURSDAY MARCH 12 2020 Winger planned to meet teen girl

ADAM MOBBS dogs career in danger. He is contracted to the Belmore club CANTERBURY winger Jay- until the end of 2021. den Okunbor planned to get In a screenshot of the ex- together with a Port Mac- change, which was taken from quarie teenager after meeting the girl’s phone of her now-de- her during a school visit, ex- leted Instagram account, she plosive now-deleted messages asks Okunbor “Having a good reveal. stalk?” Okunbor and teammate The Bulldogs flyer replies: Corey Harawira-Naera are “Yeah had to have a good fighting to save their Bulldogs look” before asking her “What careers because of their in- are we doing tonight?” volvement in a pre-season sex The girl replies back with scandal last month. “You” and a wink emoji. The pair have been stood Two girls voluntarily went down from Thursday night’s to the Bulldogs’ hotel that NRL season opener against night, both of whom were over the for the age of consent. breaching NRL protocols by However it still constituted bringing two schoolgirls back a breach of NRL rules. to their hotel following a visit Yesterday, Bulldogs chief to a high school in Port Mac- executive Andrew Hill con- quarie. firmed the breach notices is- It comes as a source con- sued to Okunbor and firmed to News Corp that one Harawira-Naera “relate to of the Bulldogs footballers also players bringing young fe- had a sexual encounter with a males of a consensual age back The Bulldogs’ Corey Harawira-Naera won’t play in the season opener due to an off-field scandal Picture: GETTY IMAGES teacher. to the team hotel”. It is unclear whether the In the Instagram message, teacher was from the same Okunbor asks the girl: “we’re Arthur wary of Bulldogs’ ability to pull together school as the two students in- (sic) you at the school today”. volved with the players. She then sends Okunbor a DAVID SMITH in Port Macquarie last of incidents in the past before brought valuable attributes to The scandal already threat- photo of what is believed to be month. Round 1. It’s an excuse if you the Eels on and off the field. ens to cost the Bulldogs a new herself, the Bulldogs winger PARRAMATTA coach Brad The Eels have won six of want it to be. I’m sure the “Matto is someone that’s $2 million major sponsorship and a teammate during the Arthur says the Bulldogs their past eight matches Bulldogs won’t be using it as not afraid to speak his mind,” deal with family restaurant school visit. won’t use the absence of against the Bulldogs but Ar- an excuse.” he said. “He’s got really Rashays. The message thread ends Corey Harawira-Naera and thur expects a tough test Parramatta have been strong beliefs on how he The Bulldogs don’t cur- with Okunbor writing “Okay” Jayden Okunbor as an ex- from Dean Pay’s team at given an injury boost with wants to be seen as a player rently have a major sponsor and including three emojis cuse when the NRL season Bankwest Stadium. “They centre Waqa Blake overcom- and how he wants the team and will run out for their first with heart-shaped eyes. kicks off tonight. are tough, they are a team ing a shoulder injury to take to be seen. game of the 2020 NRL season The incident has led to The Canterbury pair have that’s hard to beat,” Arthur his place in the starting line- “As for the football part of against Parramatta on Thurs- Okunbor and Harawira-Naera been stood down from all said. “We’ve seen that at the up despite failing to feature it, he’s going to bring that day night with a blank space being banned from tonight’s team activities by the NRL back end of last year. in the pre-season. extra level of professionalism on their chests. season-opening game and club and chief executive An- “I think players are pretty Forward recruits Reagan that we’ve been looking for, Now the emergence of an training, with coach Dean Pay drew Hill confirmed they resilient and clubs are resili- Campbell-Gillard and Ryan and that leadership.” Instagram exchange between admitting he could not con- were being investigated for ent. Sometimes the players Matterson will make their of- Having reached the semis Okunbor, 23, and one of the firm when the pair would re- bringing teenage girls back to will come together and band ficial club debuts in Round 1 last year, the Eels are tipped girls, has put the winger’s Bull- turn to the playing ranks. their hotel after a school visit together. We’ve had a couple and Arthur said the latter to be contenders in 2020. Heartbreak for Broncos’ Bird as comeback cut short by another torn ACL LAINE CLARK ACL tear in as many years. Seibold had been full of North Queensland. Then dis- he broke down in Round 9 last rehabilitation has been un- Broncos medical staff said praise for Bird before Broncos aster struck. year. wavering in his return from his MOMENTS after coach An- Bird was likely to undergo sur- training yesterday after the Bird’s left knee buckled “ is a cruel last knee injury. thony Seibold saluted Jack gery after scans confirmed former NSW star returned to underneath him in a tackle and game sometimes,” Seibold said “He has had a tremendous Bird’s triumphant return from their worst fears yesterday career best fitness, earning first he left the field in distress. in a statement after scans con- pre-season and ticked all the a serious knee injury, the Bris- afternoon, just days before shot at the No.1 jersey in to- It is the same knee that re- firmed the devastating news. boxes required for a great start bane star suffered a second their NRL season opener. morrow’s derby clash with quired a reconstruction after “Jack’s commitment to his to the year.” NTNE01Z01MA - V1