Current England international and former Super League star Morgan Smithies has apologised for his involvement in an incident in Las Vegas.
The Canberra Raiders are one of four NRL teams in Las Vegas at the minute ahead of Saturday’s full day of rugby league but Morgan Smithies and his Raiders teammate Hudson Young have made the headlines for the wrong reasons.
Returning from a night out, which had been permitted by the Raiders, Young and Smithies found themselves locked out of their rooms whilst a system error also failed to recognise them as guests. Upon the hotel checking CCTV footage, an inflatable baseball bat was reportedly mistaken for a weapon and the two were ejected from the building.
It’s now been confirmed by a club spokesperson that whilst the duo will not be sent home, club sanctions are still a possibility once the Las Vegas trip is all said and done. The NRL Integrity Unit have also been advised about the incident.
Ex-Super League star apologises to the NRL after Las Vegas lift incident
Credit: Alex Whitehead/SWpix.com
Smithies and Young fronted the media on Monday morning in Vegas to discuss the incident with Young being the primary speaker as the pair apologised.
He was keen to stress that there was no issue between himself and Smithies, in fact clarifying that he and the ex-Wigan Warriors man are ‘best mates’ and spent Christmas together.
Per NRL.com, the Australian international said: “We’re best mates – he was at mine for Christmas and our partners are travelling to America (together) at the moment, so there’s no issues there.
“I’m embarrassed for myself, my team-mates, the NRL and the game. I feel awful, especially for my family as well. It’s a massive thing for them coming over here and now they have to deal with this as well.”
Describing the incident, Young said: “There was a scuffle in the elevator. There was nothing in the hallways or anything like that, it was all in the elevator.
“We’ve come back as a team, as a group, and one of the boys had got a toy baseball bat from somewhere.
“I think that was mistaken for a weapon in the elevator, but it played no role.
“Security didn’t break anything up. We’ve come back downstairs to sort our room out and that’s when they’ve reviewed the footage, and they asked us to leave.”
Young also confirmed that the club had dealt with the issue internally of whether he and Smithies should remain in Las Vegas, with both men issuing apologies prior to answering questions.
Former Super League star Smithies said: “I’d just like to apologise to the club, the hotel and the NRL. Obviously, it’s such an important week. Me and Huddo made a mistake which we’re sorry about, which we own.”
The Raiders play New Zealand Warriors in the second game of the four matches in Las Vegas with the kick-off slated to be at midnight, following the conclusion of Wigan and Warrington’s game.
