The viability of this year's NRL competition was thrown into doubt after one of the game's most controversial stars went onto his hotel balcony to hang a wet towel.
James Roberts, 28, strolled outside despite warnings that if any more players left their rooms then the league's quarantine bubble might be closed.
The troubled Wests Tigers centre was pictured soaking in the sun at the Novotel Hotel in Surfers Paradise on Tuesday - despite the warnings that were issued when players and family members were snapped passing lollies to other guests on floors above and below.
The reason given for 'Jimmy the Jet's' alleged player bubble breach was that he was struggling with mental health issues and needed to step out for some fresh air, but video and images show the Tigers outside back stepping onto his balcony to dry a towel.
The new images will infuriate Queensland health authorities who threw a season-saving lifeline to the NRL by taking them into a quarantine bubble when the league's heartland of Sydney was locked down due to a Covid outbreak.
Just days ago Queensland's chief health officer Jeannette Young issued a stark warning to players now residing in hubs with their families in Brisbane, the Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast that they were on their final warning.
NRL player James Roberts is spotted on his hotel quarantine balcony allegedly breaking the rules
Roberts, 28, was captured soaking in the sun at the Novotel Hotel in Surfers Paradise on Tuesday
Due to Covid protocols, footballers in Queensland player hubs are not allowed to step on their balcony
Dr Young put the players, their families and the entire competition on notice saying she was prepared to kick the NRL players, families and officials out of the state which would effectively end the season as Sydney's lockdown will extend through August.
'I'm getting very close to it,' Dr Young said of revoking the league's exemption.
'I'm very, very concerned about what is happening with these NRL players. This is too risky. We just cannot have people deliberately breaching the rules.'
Fed-up with the attitude of some footballers who weren't getting the message, Queensland Health forced players to tape their doors shut to make sure there was no more intermingling from balcony to balcony.
Players, staff and family member were all given explicit instructions that their balconies were now a no-go.
Robert's alleged breach of the Covid bubble could see an extremely harsh penalty, with a potential for his contract to be torn up as well as huge fines.
It could also see the NRL reprimanded for not keeping their players in line with public safety protocols.
Roberts is pictured on his balcony just days after Queensland's chief health officer Jeannette Young told the NRL they are on their final warning
The reason given for 'Jimmy the Jet's' alleged player bubble breach was that he was struggling with mental health issues and needed to step out for some fresh air, but video and images show the outside back stepping onto his balcony to dry a towel
The images are set to infuriate Queensland health authorities who allowed the NRL to move the entire competition to Queensland two weeks ago in the midst of Sydney's spiralling Covid outbreak. Pictured: Roberts opens his balcony door to go back inside
Roberts, who has had a number of disciplinary issues during his time in the top grade, revealed earlier this year he almost quit rugby league due to his mental health struggles.
After being sacked from South Sydney and then Penrith early in his career, 'Jimmy the Jet' was arrested for public nuisance in 2014 on the Gold Coast when he was playing for the Titans.
He was arrested for another drunken incident while playing for the Brisbane Broncos in 2016 and later attended various rehabilitation facilities to get his promising career back on track.
In 2018, the he represented the NSW Blues in State of Origin but in the years that followed his career began to wane with several injuries.
The Wests Tigers on Tuesday night released a statement on the apparent quarantine breach.
'The NRL has today reported a breach of the current balcony directive to Queensland Health by Wests Tigers player James Roberts,' the club said.
'The NRL and Wests Tigers are providing James with additional wellbeing support to assist him in coping with quarantine and will continue to work closely with Queensland Health.'
NRL families have been forced to tape their balconies shut and send photo proof to Queensland Health after they were pictured breaching quarantine rules
Pictures show men and women staying inside the Novotel hotel in Surfers Paradise as a part of the NRL's bubble passing lollies to people on floors above and below them on July 22
Players and families passing each other goodies was the second Covid breach in quick succession after Daily Mail Australia revealed last week that married Penrith Panthers hooker Apisai Koroisau sneaked a woman he met on Instagram into the Blues State of Origin camp.
The woman who is alleged to have met up with Koroisau said she has not yet been contacted by officials after coming forward to reveal she twice sneaked in with him.
NRL's integrity
