James Roberts has been banned from attending this weekend's Emerging Blues camp, despite the NRL having insufficient evidence to sanction the troubled Bronco over his latest off-field incident.
The NRL integrity unit investigated allegations Roberts grabbed a woman by the hair at the Love Nightclub earlier this month.
![Fresh controversy: James Roberts has been banned from the Emerging Blues camp.](/web/20170125122716im_/http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/content/dam/images/g/q/w/0/y/h/image.related.articleLeadwide.620x349.gtylk7.png/1485331980734.jpg)
The probe was hampered by the nightclub owner's refusal to hand over CCTV footage and the unwillingness of witnesses to come forward. The case will remain open should new evidence emerge.
While Roberts has escaped sanction from the governing body – and the prospect of his Brisbane contract being torn up – the latest drama has dented his chances of playing representative football.
Roberts was one of 13 NSW-eligible stars identified by the NSWRL hierarchy as future State of Origin players. However, his invite to Saturday's emerging camp at Star City has been rescinded.
"We have had discussions with the Brisbane Broncos today," NSWRL boss David Trodden said. "It was the Broncos' view that James' welfare would be best served by him not attending the camp on this occasion, and we support their approach to it."
Roberts has long been considered a future Blue, particularly after earning Dally M centre of the year honours following his breakout 2015 season with the Gold Coast.
However, the Love Nightclub incident – the latest in a concerning number of alcohol-related incidents – has cost him the chance to join fellow invitees Shannon Boyd, Reagan Campbell-Gillard, Nathan Peats, Nathan Cleary, Jordan McLean, Bryce Cartwright, Ryan James, Joey Leilua, Latrell Mitchell, Junior Paulo, Jake Trbojevic and Tom Trbojevic.
The Broncos have stood by Roberts but have acknowledged that his commitment to giving up alcohol is just the first step towards overcoming his personal issues.
The controversial three-quarter was already on a lifeline at the club after an incident at the Normanby Hotel in Brisbane late last year, and he had only just returned from a stint at a Thai rehab clinic.
Brisbane CEO Paul White said he understood calls for Roberts to be cut loose from Red Hill, but the evidence on this occasion did not demand they bring the axe down on the 23-year-old's career.
He said Brisbane had remained at arm's length from the NRL investigation and were prepared for any course of action – including sacking Roberts – depending on the findings handed down from head office.
"When you sit and look at things on balance, the outcome if a breach was sustained would have been fairly drastic," White said. "With the facts that were presented, we just weren't prepared to give up on James at this stage. It wouldn't have been right. And it wouldn't have been fair.
"I know there were plenty of people who wrote his obituary. But that just couldn't stand up with what ultimately came out of the investigation.
"It hasn't been easy. It's been tough. And I understand there will be people disappointed. I ask them to consider whether a fair process has taken place. And it has. Was it enough to end a young man's career? Our position is no."
White said Roberts had beaten them to the punch when it came to dealing with his alcohol issues, volunteering to go cold turkey, in a move that will be policed and supported by club welfare staff.
"Is there going to be a booze ban in place? James has now arrived at the position where he's going to withdraw from alcohol," White said. "We're going to hold him to account for that."
Roberts had an underwhelming first campaign with the Broncos, and will be under even greater scrutiny in his second season under coach Wayne Bennett.
White said that was the least of his concerns, and Roberts had become accustomed to focusing on football during periods of controversy.
"Unfortunately, he's as well equipped as anyone," White said. "The problem we've got is that he's too well equipped for that. Our problem isn't that we can get him to play good rugby league. The issue for James is continuing with those changes he's made in his life."
Asked about Roberts being in a nightclub given his much-publicised troubles, White said: "Nothing much good happens after midnight, and he was out to that time. It's an at-risk environment and we were disappointed in that. James understands that disappointment."
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