Broncos boozers will miss matches
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Bruno Cullen says Broncos players who break the rules will miss matches (file photo). (AAP: Gillian Ballard)
Brisbane Broncos players who break a tough new alcohol plan will miss NRL matches.
The club was accused of having a drinking culture late last season after three players were investigated for an alleged sexual assault at a nightclub.
Captain Darren Lockyer was also involved in an incident with a bar owner.
The club has now developed a 10-point plan which includes a total ban on alcohol between Sunday matches and Friday night games.
It also includes Saturday night curfews with limits on drinking.
Broncos boss Bruno Cullen says players who break the strict rules will be penalised.
"Handing that responsibility to the players and asking them to adhere to that, they've let us down on occasions," he said.
"We're saying now that that's it.
"From now on, a punishment for a breach of those rules will be missing games.
"They love playing, they hate missing games and we feel that that's one of the strongest punishments."
He said the club's hand had been forced.
"They've given us, if you like, no option but to take control," he said.
"I'm sure the players would want to try and win their own trust back and they've got the opportunity to do that over the next 12 months or so.
"But right now we're in a position where we have to have to have full control over the athlete and some of them are on really big money, and we want bang for our buck so to speak."
The tough stance follows a two-day conference on the Gold Coast with new coach Ivan Henjak, who has taken over from Wayne Bennett.
Former Broncos captain Gene Miles said he fully supported the new code if it helped to clean up the image of the NRL.
He said it is now up to the players to toe the line.
"I still feel they're being fair and reasonable to the players," he said.
"At the end of the day I think it's totally up to the individual, how committed they are to the cause and of course how disciplined they are, and how bad they want to win the following week."
