Four Canterbury Bulldogs players missed their flight to Brisbane after a food court visit turned costly.
The Incident
Four players from the Canterbury Bulldogs rugby league team missed their scheduled flight to Brisbane. The players were identified as Marcelo Montoya, Viliame Kikau, Stephen Crichton, and one other unnamed individual.
They were eating at a food court and did not hear boarding announcements until their names were called over the PA system. By the time they reached the gate, the security door was closed and they were unable to board.
The Sanctions
The players were not subject to formal disciplinary action by the club. Instead, they received internal, player-driven sanctions.
These sanctions included activities such as dying their hair or singing karaoke in front of teammates. According to reports, these are described as common, informal penalties for lateness within the team.
Coach's Statement
Coach Cameron Ciraldo confirmed the incident, stating that one player had a sudden bout of diarrhea, which contributed to missing the flight.
"Three of the players stayed back to ensure the fourth did not miss the plane."
Ciraldo noted that he viewed this act positively. He emphasized that the team has moved on from the incident.