NRL whacks Warriors assistant over ugly Vegas incident, Raiders cop breach notices — NRL Daily

New Zealand Warriors assistant coach Richard Agar is facing a fine of up to $10,000, a three-match suspension and an education program after clashing with a journalist in Las Vegas.

Watch your team in the 2025 NRL Telstra Premiership. Stream every round LIVE in 4K, with no ad-breaks during play, on Kayo Sports. New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited-time offer.

It was alleged that Agar grabbed the reporter by the throat and was also verbally abusive.

“The breach notice proposes a fine for Agar of $10,000 (half suspended), a suspension of three (3) NRL matches and a requirement for Agar to undertake appropriate education and training,” an NRL statement said.

“The suspension prohibits Agar from performing any duties as Assistant Coach of the Warriors on the days the matches are scheduled. Further, Agar is prohibited from travelling to any away match scheduled for the Warriors during the period of the suspension.”

Agar has five business days to respond to the breach notice should he wish to contest the proposed penalties.

Earlier, Raiders players Hudson Young and Morgan Smithies were issued a breach notice by the NRL over their hotel incident in Las Vegas — though the potential penalty was unclear.

The notice alleges a breach of the NRL’s code of conduct after the pair returned to their hotel drunk and engaged in a scuffle, which triggered security and briefly led to them being evicted from the premises.

Bizarrely, the incident also featured an inflatable baseball bat, which security initially mistook for a serious weapon.

“The Breach Notice alleges the players engaged in conduct which has brought the game and their Club into disrepute. The NRL recognises that the players provided a public apology and have accepted responsibility for their actions,” an NRL statement said.

“In accordance with the Collective Bargaining Agreement with the RLPA, information concerning the NRL’s proposed sanction will not be disclosed until the players have had the opportunity to respond to the alleged breach and the matter is finalised.”

Canberra coach Ricky Stuart made the players front the media to explain themselves in Vegas, though they were then allowed to play in a season-opening win against the Warriors.

STORM STAR PLACED ON REPORT FOR UGLY TACKLE IN RETURN FROM FIVE-GAME BAN

Storm star Nelson Asofa-Solomona’s NRL return could be delayed further after he was put on report for a hip drop tackle in a Queensland Cup game.

Asofa-Solomona was only just returning from a five-game suspension for a high shot on Lindsay Collins in last season’s preliminary final against the Roosters. Two Pacific Championship games counted towards the ban.

Playing into peak fitness to ready himself for a NRL return in the coming weeks, the prop lined up for Storm feeder club Sunshine Coast Falcons on Saturday against PNG.

He was placed on report and penalised for a hip drop on PNG player Zebedy Kip.

Thankfully, Kip was ok and was able to get back up and keep playing.

Asofa-Solomona has an average judiciary record so he could be facing another ban for the tackle.

DRAGONS UNDER INVESTIGATION FOR ALLEGEDLY FLOUTING HIA RULES

The Dragons are reportedly under investigation over their head injury replacement of forward Raymond Faitala-Mariner in their Round 1 clash with the Bulldogs.

Faitala-Mariner was taken from the field in the 71st minute which allowed Jack de Belin to return to the action as the Dragons tried to run down a 12-point deficit.

They still had one interchange left up their sleeve – with Damien Cook coming on for Toby Couchman in the 76th minute – but with no clear sign of what caused the head injury for Faitala-Mariner.

The NRL are now looking into the incident, according to the SMH who reported the forward never appeared to cop a head knock and came off smiling.

MORE NRL NEWS