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Gold Coast sack Kevin Proctor over vaping scandal

(Photo by Albert Perez/Getty Images)

Gold Coast have made the stunning call to sack former captain Kevin Proctor for vaping inside CommBank Stadium during his team’s NRL loss to Canterbury.

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In a now-deleted Instagram story on his own page, Proctor can be seen vaping inside a cubicle at the ground at halftime of the Titans 36-26 loss on Sunday.

The video was uploaded with the caption “not the halftime vape”, with Proctor inhaling and then shaking his head with the Titans down 26-10 at the time.

Proctor was not playing in the match, but was part of the squad as 19th man, with the video believed to be taken within a toilet cubicle inside the Titans’ changerooms.

Stadium officials have also confirmed to AAP that vaping is not permitted in the seating bowl or anywhere around the stadium.

Additionally, players cannot have their phones in the dressing rooms for integrity reasons.

Proctor was not at Titans headquarters on Monday but was notified by the club he would be fined close to $15,000 and he would not be welcome back to play or train.

“His actions were in breach of both NRL and Stadium regulations,” Gold Coast said in a statement.

At age 33, it is also possible the incident could spell the end of Proctor’s NRL career.

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A premiership-winner at Melbourne in 2012 and Kiwi Test star, Proctor was a big-name signing for the Titans when he arrived in 2017.

He was also named at the club’s co-captain at the time, a role he later held until the end of last year.

However his stint has not been without drama, finding trouble in New Zealand Test camp that season and was later banned for four matches for biting Shaun Johnson in 2020.

Off-contract at the end of this year, Proctor had not featured in a Titans game since round nine and was unlikely to be re-signed for next year.

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The incident involving a senior player again raises the issue of culture at the NRL club, who have lost their last eight games.

They sit above only Wests Tigers on for-and-against at the bottom of the NRL ladder, with coach Justin Holbrook’s job firmly in the spotlight.

Holbrook conceded again on Sunday that a lack of experience was a key issue, after releasing established halfback Jamal Fogarty at the start of the season.

Titans management had declared at the end of last year that they were on the verge of a premiership window, believing two titles were possible before 2030.

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Oh no, not him again? 2 hours ago
England internationals disagree on final play execution vs All Blacks

Okay, so we blew it big time on Saturday. So rather than repeating what most people have all ready said, what do I want to see from Borthwick going forward?


Let's keep Marcus Smith on the pitch if he's fit and playing well. I was really pleased with his goal kicking. It used to be his weakness. I feel sympathy for George Ford who hadn't kicked all match and then had a kick to win the game. You hear pundits and commentators commend kickers who have come off the bench and pulled that off. Its not easy. If Steve B continues to substitute players with no clear reason then he is going to get criticised.


On paper I thought England would beat NZ if they played to their potential and didn't show NZ too much respect. Okay, the off the ball tackles certainly stopped England scoring tries, but I would have liked to see more smashing over gainlines and less kicking for position. Yes, I also know it's the Springbok endorsed world cup double winning formula but the Kiwi defence isn't the Bok defence, is it. If you have the power to put Smith on the front foot then why muzzle him? I guess what I'm saying is back, yourself. Why give the momentum to a team like NZ? Why feed the beast? Don't give the ball to NZ. Well d'uh.


Our scrum is a long term weakness. If you are going to play Itoje then he needs an ogre next door and a decent front row. Where is our third world class lock? Where are are realible front row bench replacements? The England scrum has been flakey for a while now. It blows hot and cold. Our front five bench is not world class.


On the positive side I love our starting backrow right now. I'd like to see them stick together through to the next world cup.


Anyway, there is always another Saturday.

7 Go to comments
C
CO 2 hours ago
Scott Robertson responds to criticism over All Blacks' handling errors

Robertson is more a manager of coaches than a coach so it comes down to intent of outcomes at a high level. I like his intent, I like the fact his Allblacks are really driving the outcomes however as he's pointed out the high error rates are not test level and their control of the game is driving both wins and losses. England didn't have to play a lot of rugby, they made far fewer mistakes and were extremely unlucky not to win.


In fact the English team were very early in their season and should've been comfortably beaten by an Allblacks team that had played multiple tests together.


Razor has himself recognised that to be the best they'll have to sort out the crisis levels of mistakes that have really increased since the first two tests against England.


Early tackles were a classic example of hyper enthusiasm to not give an inch, that passion that Razor has achieved is going to be formidable once the unforced errors are eliminated.


That's his secret, he's already rebuilt the passion and that's the most important aspect, its inevitable that he'll now eradicate the unforced errors. When that happens a fellow tier one nation is going to get thrashed. I don't think it will be until 2025 though.


The Allblacks will lose both tests against Ireland and France if they play high error rates rugby like they did against England.


To get the unforced errors under control he's going to be needing to handover the number eight role to Sititi and reset expectations of what loose forwards do. Establish a clear distinction with a large, swarthy lineout jumper at six that is a feared runner and dominant tackler and a turnover specialist at seven that is abrasive in contact. He'll then need to build depth behind the three starters and ruthlessly select for that group to be peaking in 2027 in hit Australian conditions on firm, dry grounds.


It's going to help him that Savea is shifting to the worst super rugby franchise where he's going to struggle behind a beaten pack every week.


The under performing loose forward trio is the key driver of the high error rates and unacceptable turn overs due to awol link work. Sititi is looking like he's superman compared to his openside and eight.


At this late stage in the season they shouldn't be operating with just the one outstanding loose forward out of four selected for the English test. That's an abject failure but I think Robertson's sacrificing link quality on purpose to build passion amongst the junior Allblacks as they see the reverential treatment the old warhorses are receiving for their long term hard graft.


It's unfortunately losing test matches and making what should be comfortable wins into nail biters but it's early in the world cup cycle so perhaps it's a sacrifice worth making.


However if this was F1 then Sam Cane would be Riccardo and Ardie would be heading into Perez territory so the loose forwards desperately need revitalisation through a rebuild over the next season to complement the formidable tight five.

28 Go to comments
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