League great Wally Lewis has endorsed the two-game suspensions set to be dolled out to Broncos players Payne Haas and Albert Kelly following an altercation outside a team hotel.
Video emerged on Sunday night of the star prop and five-eighth getting physical at a Sydney hotel after their round two win over the Bulldogs. It’s understood Haas and Kelly will be handed suspensions of up to two games for the clash.
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Kelly is already out injured and will serve his ban when he returns but Haas has been named in Brisbane’s side to take on the Roosters on Friday.
Speaking on Nine’s Today, Lewis described claims of a ban as “fitting” while defending Haas’ behaviour.
“There are going to be people in the public who think two games is light on. But I think it’s fitting, it appeared like he didn’t want to take part in the push and shove but in the end he had to to try and finish it,” he said.
“A lot of people are suggesting this wasn’t happening in the early part of the season. The Broncos started off well with back to back wins and everybody was predicting they were heading to the finals.
“But two losses in a row and there’s a little bit of unrest at the club, there’s no surprise this has come along after a difficult period for them.”
It’s understood Haas would have escaped with a warning if it was his first offence. But the Broncos star has a lengthy rap sheet.
The 22-year-old was fined by the NRL and suspended for three games when he was hit with a two-year good behaviour bond in February 2021 after pleading guilty to intimidating police and using offensive behaviour.
He was also stood down by the Broncos in 2019 for refusing to co-operate with an NRL integrity unit investigation.
All in all, Haas has amassed a total of $70,000 in fines from the NRL and the Broncos and seven matches in suspensions. Following a strong start to the year with consecutive wins, the Broncos stare down the barrel of three straight losses when they face an improving Roosters team.
“I think they had it in order at the start of the season, going to every single training session it looked like one of the happiest units at the Broncos,” Lewis added. “This has thrown a spanner in the works. But all the former players around the club no how to handle things like this.”
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