The New Zealand Warriors have released a statement saying the NRL Integrity Unit is investigating after assistant coach Richard Agar allegedly grabbed an English journalist at half-time in their defeat to Canberra in Las Vegas.
"Post game I was made aware of an alleged incident at half-time involving assistant coach Richard Agar and an English journalist John Davidson from The Guardian," Warriors chief executive Cameron George said in a statement.
"This morning I had the opportunity to speak with the NRL Integrity Unit. They are working through their process which will include us.
"I hope their process will be efficient and prompt so we can provide clarity on the matter."
Davidson did not mention any incident on his social media profiles, but did describe his trip to Vegas as "interesting" on X.
"So long Vegas. It's been… interesting," he wrote.
Agar, an ex-player with almost 200 appearances in the English professional game, has previously coached Leeds, Wakefield Trinity and Hull in the Super League, as well as a spell in charge of the French national team.
He moved to the Warriors in 2022 after resigning from the Leeds head coaching role.
The Warriors were second best in their match against the Raiders, losing 30-8 at Allegiant Stadium.
However, Canberra's statement win came at a big cost for the Raiders too, with captain Joe Tapine and star winger Xavier Savage facing suspensions from the NRL match review committee.
Raiders captain Tapine went to the sin bin for shoulder-charging Warriors co-captain Mitch Barnett in the second half.
"We turned the ball over and that's my job, I'm trying to pump the boys up and I'm trying to turn the momentum," Tapine said of the hit.
He will miss Canberra's next two games against Brisbane and Manly with an early guilty plea for his grade-two charge, but risks sitting out a third game against North Queensland by taking his case to the judiciary.
Coach Ricky Stuart said the NRL had set the standard for shoulder-charge calls this season by sin-binning Tapine.
"I'm not saying it's the wrong call, but it's a massive call. But as long as it stays in every game now," Stuart said.
Savage, tipped as the Raiders' successor to livewire back Jordan Rapana, is set to miss the Broncos clash for attacking Chanel Harris-Tavita's legs as he kicked in the first half.
The NRL takes a dim view of similar shots, with Freddy Lussick notably inflicting a serious leg injury on Lachlan Ilias in the NSW Cup last year.
Savage, who was brilliant for the Raiders, scoring two tries just days after proposing to his girlfriend, will miss a second game if he challenges his grade-two dangerous contact charge.
It's a bitter blow for a Canberra side that missed finals last year but produced its most complete performance in memory during the first game of the season.
Albert Hopoate appears the likeliest man to come into the backline for the Raiders after he missed the trip to Vegas to attend the birth of his child.
Trey Mooney, Myles Martin and Pasami Saulo are among middle-forward options that could replace Tapine in the 17.
ABC/AAP
