A NSW politician has come out swinging in defence of Eels fullback Isaiah Iongi after he was issued a breach notice by the NRL over controversial photos.
Images of the young Parramatta star surfaced last month that showed him smoking an unknown substance, which prompted the club to notify the NRL integrity unit.
He was subsequently issued a breach notice for "bringing the game into disrepute".
READ MORE: NFL's historic MCG game to cause AFL big finals headache
READ MORE: Worrying decline laid bare as Aussie cricket hits 53-year low
READ MORE: 'Mind-boggling': Warne family to miss out on share of $2.3b deal
The images were shared without Iongi's consent and are believed to be from several years ago, according to The Sydney Morning Herald.
He is expected to be free to play in Parramatta's round four clash against the Panthers.
In an address in the NSW Legislative Council on Wednesday night, Jeremy Buckingham – an MP with the Legalise Cannabis NSW party – moved a motion condemning "the sanctioning of a dedicated athlete for simply and peacefully blazing a perfectly rolled spliff in a bath in the privacy of his own home".
"It is late in the evening, and it is time for a bath and a spliff – and that is all Isaiah Iongi has done," Buckingham said.
"It is absolutely outrageous that this young man, who is at the top of his game, dedicated and committed … is facing sanction from the NRL integrity unit after being outed, without his consent, by photos taken by another party purporting to show him smoking a 'suspicious substance'.
"Maybe that suspicious substance was a little bit of cannabis. A spliff, a joint. Maybe he has a prescription. We do not even know that he was doing anything criminal.
Watch the 2026 NRL season live and free on Nine and 9Now.
"And yet, the NRL has jumped in … and has essentially sent Parramatta a show-cause notice as to why he shouldn't be suspended for a week."
He finished by urging WADA, the NRL and the Eels to "stop clutching at their pearls … (and) get with the twenty-first century and free the weed".
The motion was supported by the government but not the opposition – shadow sports minister Natalie Ward "hadn't seen the pictures".
ROUND FOUR TIPS: Freddy names two players who must lift for spicy clash
"It could well have been parsley. It could well have been a herb," she said.
Iongi was issued the breach notice on Monday.
"The particulars of the breach notice, determined by the independent decision maker (IDM), are that Iongi featured in imagery, which emerged publicly on 22 February 2026, which has brought the game into disrepute," an NRL statement read.
"Iongi has five business days to respond to the breach notice."
The 22-year-old is one of the NRL's rising stars, nominated for Dally M Rookie of the Year honours last season and playing for Tonga in the Pacific Championships.
He signed a long-term contract extension with the Eels at the end of last year, keeping him in the blue and gold jersey until the end of 2030.
Parramatta have since responded to the breach notice.
"We will work with Isaiah to review the notice and respond accordingly as per the process," the statement said.
"We will not be making any further comment until the matter is concluded."
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.