Gold Coast players are being investigated by the NRL following reports they were playing poker machines at Sydney pub without wearing masks.
Following a COVID cluster in Queensland last week, new biosecurity rules were introduced which require players to wear masks while indoor at public venues.
Titans skipper Kevin Proctor and three teammates were witnessed gambling at the Locker Room Bar on Thursday night, according to News Corp.
Proctor was reportedly playing the machines for several hours but was only briefly joined by his three teammates, while Gold Coast chairman Dennis Watt has asked team management for an explanation.
Most of the Gold Coast squad were at the same pub in an outdoor section on Wednesday night watching the Tim Tszyu fight, but several players went inside without masks.
The Titans match against Canberra was moved to Sydney this week as a safety precaution following the COVID outbreak in Queensland.
The pokies scandal comes after the NRL asked Wests Tigers to explain why James Roberts was in Newcastle at the Tim Tszyu fight in what appeared to be a biosecurity breach.
On Wednesday all clubs were sent an email by the NRL warning players that they should not attend the fight.
An exemption was granted for South Sydney duo Latrell Mitchell and Cody Walker to attend as part of Tszyu’s entourage under the condition they wore masks and adhered to the COVID plan of the boxer’s team.
However, star centre Roberts was not granted the same exemption prior to attending the fight and on Thursday the NRL asked for a please explain.
The NRL is yet to determine if sanctions will be imposed for Roberts or the Titans.
NRL superstars Mitchell, Josh Addo-Carr and Nathan Cleary were all fined heavily last year for breaching biosecurity protocols.