POWERHOUSE Parramatta forward Junior Paulo is in hot water after breaching his NRL contract by playing a game of park rugby union.
Inquiries from The Daily Telegraph prompted Parramatta to investigate Paulo after the Eels giant played a third grade rugby union match for the Oatley Rugby Club on April 30, less than 24 hours after an Eels match.
In a code-hopping act of stupidity, Paulo donned headgear to conceal his identity and risked injury by taking to the field for the final 20 minutes of Oatley’s 17-10 win over Beecroft at HV Evatt Park at Oatley.
It is understood Paulo signed in on the team sheet under the name of a registered Oatley player before the “Ladies Day’’ match.
His rugby cameo came a day after he played 44 minutes, had 13 runs for 131m and made 16 tackles in Parramatta’s 20-12 win over Canterbury.
Paulo, who has signed a massive two-year deal to play with the Canberra Raiders from next season, has breached several clauses in his NRL contract.
The Eels confirmed they had launched their own investigation into the matter and had informed the NRL.
Paulo and the Eels both declined to comment officially, but it is understood the 22-year-old has admitted taking part in the match during an internal probe “as a favour to his brother-in-law”.
Hendry Lees, Paulo’s brother in law, coaches third grade in the Campbell Cup.
The Oatley Rugby Club could be fined, stripped of points and even kicked out of the competition as a result of allowing Paulo to play.
“He certainly took the field,’’ a Beecroft official, who asked to remain anonymous, said. “They are a team known for stacking but to play a first grade rugby league player is just ridiculous.’’
Oatley club president Richard Rice confirmed Paulo played in the match.
“He is related to the coach,’’ Rice said. “I believe Junior is the coach’s brother in-law. And he was there to support the team and run water for them.’’
Rice said the club did not condone Lees’ actions and he would launch an internal investigation.
“We certainly do not want this sort of thing happening,’’ Rice said.
“And there will be serious consequences for the club if this is the case. It is what It is and I’m not sure how they expected to get away with it or why they did it. It is certainly going to be heavily frowned upon by both this club and the NSW Rugby Union.’’
Paulo played for Samoa in last Saturday’s 18-6 win over Tonga in the Pacific Test match. Despite breaching his playing contract, the NRL said it would not look to sanction Paulo.
“The club is dealing with the matter,” an NRL spokesman said.
