The Dragons player broke a self-imposed drinking ban in the worst possible way after being involved in a drunken brawl outside the team’s hotel
Dragons support Zane Musgrove has revealed he broke a self-imposed drinking ban on the infamous night he clashed with NRL teammate Mikaele Ravalawa after a night of drinking.
The Dragons were again criticized after the 6am brawl outside a team hotel in Mudgee following the club’s 42-24 defeat to South Sydney in the Charity Shield.
The pair had to be calmed down by teammates during the incident, which is the latest black eye for the embattled club.
After a scandal-filled 2022 season, the club suffered an off-season which saw Talatau Amone resign indefinitely, Cody Ramsey ruled out due to illness and manager Anthony Griffin under increasing pressure.
Now Musgrove, who joined the Dragons from the Wests in the off-season, has admitted to the Sydney Morning Herald that he chose to break his alcohol ban at the worst possible time.
Mikaele Ravalawa (centre) has been a goal-scoring machine for the Dragons and apologized for his role in the morning’s discussion
Zane Musgrove was signed from the Wests Tigers to add more mixed-breeds to the Dragons’ package for the 2023 season
The series of off-pitch behavioral issues is putting pressure on coach Anthony Griffin, with the Dragons needing on-field results as well.
“I didn’t touch a drop,” Musgrove said.
“I didn’t drink for a while. I slipped up and apologized to the boys and we’re trying to move on now. We handled it like a club and had our meetings. Mika and I, as well as the boys, need to move on now.’
Ravalawa claimed to have little recollection of the incident, but was remorseful when asked about his role in the heated confrontation.
‘I was really upset with myself,’ said Ravalawa.
‘I was so stupid and let the club and the team down. I want to get back on the playing field this year and tear up and show them how sorry I am. I’m very upset with myself. I don’t remember, and that’s why I’m upset.
“It was just a discussion about the game. At the start of the season I shouldn’t be drinking so much. It was too stupid.
Mikaele Ravalawa stretches in an attempt to score a Charity Shield try. He apologized for letting the team down
Talatau Amone was sacked by the NRL after being accused of a series of serious offenses by police
Cody Ramsey receives on-field assistance after injuring his knee during the Round 19 NRL match between the St George Illawarra Dragons and Manly Warringah Sea Eagles in 2022
The winger of the Dragons said that the two left the incident behind and were friends again.
‘We are very good,’ said Ravalawa. ‘
‘We got back on the bus and were talking again. We’re practically best friends and he’s a teammate.
Musgrove also said there are no lingering issues between the two.
‘No problem. When I came to the club, we were very united. We’d hang out and it was just one of those things that happened.’
Former Dragons captain James Graham has criticized his former club
This comes after former Dragons captain James Graham was angered by the leak of the bust to the media.
Speaking on Triple M radio, Graham chafed that a ‘whistleblower’ in the ranks was a much bigger problem than the match itself.
“My problem with that is, who’s the grass that leaked,” Graham said.
‘Who is the whistleblower? Why are you going and telling the media?
‘Because it wasn’t a problem. Nothing was broken, nobody got hurt, nobody caused an outage. No members of the public were affected by this.
‘What little snitch went to the media and said there was a fight at 6 am? Who is the informant?
‘That is the question the Dragons must resolve. Don’t settle if there’s a problem with teammates.’