Ugly fallout as Dragons player rips teammates

The Dragons' 'barbecue bender' has created a massive rift in the club's playing ranks.

While a dozen players took up Paul Vaughan's invitation to flout COVID rules to party, several of the Dragons squad declined the offer.

And those players are now filthy with the bad boys who have tarnished the club's name.

"We were told very clearly not to do anything silly, not to party, just to enjoy the moment (after the win over the Warriors) and go home," one Dragons player, who wants to stay anonymous, told Wide World of Sports.

"These blokes knew it was wrong but did it anyway and have blackened the name of the club.

"We have all been tarred with the same brush – I'm embarrassed to be a Dragons rugby league player right now.

"It has probably cost us our chance at the finals and I just hope these blokes think it was worth it."

The Dragons now have to stand down the dirty dozen for a game each over the next month, putting extra pressure on the rest of the squad.

"It's going to make it very hard for us to win those four games – it sucks," the player said.

The player didn't blame the club's management or culture for the incident.

"Management did all it could – you can't hold these blokes' hands," he said.

"They know right from wrong and chose to ignore the rules."

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