Brisbane CEO Paul White believes David Fifita's confronting stint in a Bali police station cell will deter other NRL players from visiting the popular off-season holiday spot.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The Broncos' emerging star returned to Brisbane on Tuesday morning after spending three days locked up for an alleged assault of a security guard early on Saturday.
The 19-year-old reached a "peace agreement" with the complainant in order to secure his release, with the club confirming compensation had been arranged through Fifita and his lawyer, and not the club.
It is the second incident at the Kuta nightspot in the past month after Melbourne prop Nelson Asofa-Solomona's involvement in a brawl that ended in a suspended $15,000 fine and three-match ban.
White was careful when commenting on the Indonesian justice system but said Fifita's NRL colleagues would have taken note of both players' misadventures.
"I think there will be plenty, not just at our club but at other clubs, who will have looked at what happened the last few weeks and reconsider - not so much going to that destination, because plenty of Australians holiday peacefully in Bali without incident - but your choice of where you go while you are over there," he said.
"David made a poor choice being in that nightclub precinct in that early hour of the morning.
"Sometimes you have got to accept that is where the fault lies."
The Broncos flew welfare officer Adam Walsh to Bali to assist Fifita, who had been holidaying with teammate Payne Haas.
Teammate Corey Oates said he was surprised by the choice of holiday destination for Fifita and Haas saying he didn't think either were the "Bali type".
Oates, who spent his off-season break in Los Angeles, felt players would think twice about visiting Bali during their time off.
"I think it'll (Bali) be off a lot of player's radar for a while now and it's probably a smart thing," he said.
"It's probably a good thing for the game just because of what's happening lately."
Fifita will now face the consequences of an NRL integrity unit investigation while White said the Broncos would allow that process to unfold before considering any club sanctions.
NRL boss Todd Greenberg said Fifita's ordeal was a reminder to players, regardless of their surroundings, to be aware of their decision-making.
"Players need to be acutely aware of the circumstances they place themselves in and the decisions they make particularly in foreign countries and particularly in environments that are foreign to them," Greenberg said.
"Players are on notice about the decisions they make and the accountability that goes with those decisions."
Australian Associated Press
