A Canberra man has faced court after allegedly supplying two members of the New Zealand rugby league team with cocaine in the city centre after the Anzac Test.
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Adrian Mark Crowther, 38, was granted bail in the ACT Magistrates Court on Saturday morning.
He was arrested and charged with allegedly supplying New Zealand captain Jesse Bromwich and player Kevin Proctor with cocaine, as well as possession of four grams of MDMA.
Bromwich, who plays for Melbourne Storm, and Proctor, who plays for the Gold Coast Titans, had earlier played in the Anzac Test against Australia at Canberra's GIO Stadium.
Court documents said CCTV allegedly captured Crowther preparing a white substance on his phone in Petrie Plaza, near Cube Nightclub about 5.10am.
Police alleged the footage showed Crowther offer the phone to two men, both of whom allegedly inhaled it through rolled bank notes.
Crowther was searched and police allegedly found "a small clip seal bag containing a white powdery substance and one capsule containing a brown rocky substance".
He was arrested and taken to the watch house, where another police search allegedly found another bag of the white substance in his jeans.
The court heard Crowther had no prior criminal history.
The prosecution argued that the defendant be denied bail, describing his interaction with public figures to be "brazen" and warning of a risk of reoffending.
Magistrate Bernadette Boss granted bail on the grounds that she had not "been satisfied there is a likelihood of [Crowther] not appearing before the court or of reoffending".
She said she did not accept public interest arguments for refusing bail, given neither player named had been charged at the time of the court hearing.
As part of his bail conditions, Crowther was banned from attempting to contact either of the players. He has yet to enter a plea.
The matter will return to court on May 29.
The incident involving Bromwich and Proctor is the latest in a string of cocaine-related dramas in rugby league.
Sydney Roosters star Shaun Kenny-Dowall is facing an uncertain future after he was arrested for cocaine possession at Sydney's Ivy nightclub early on Friday morning.
Cronulla Sharks chairman Damian Keogh stood down from his position on Saturday morning after he was charged with cocaine possession on Friday night.
The NRL Integrity Unit is working with all parties to determine the nature of the allegations and decide if further punishment is necessary.
"The game has taken steps over many years to highlight the risks associated with the use of illicit drugs," NRL chief executive Todd Greenberg said.
"We will continue that work but ultimately individuals are accountable for their own choices, and the league's capacity to eliminate the use of illicit drugs by its participants faces similar challenges to that faced by society."
In a statement, the Gold Coast Titans, where Proctor is co-captain, said New Zealand Rugby League officials had told the integrity unit about the alleged incident.
"Investigations into the alleged incident are on-going and the club will not be making any comment until more information becomes available," the statement said.
The Melbourne Storm, where Bromwich is a prop, posted two tweets on Saturday afternoon saying that the club was trying to speak to the player and the NRL.
- with Caden Helmers
