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Staggs earns praise from Broncos captain

3 minute read

Brisbane captain Patrick Carrigan has praised the way NRL teammate Kotoni Staggs has stayed focused despite being caught up in off-field drama.

PATRICK CARRIGAN of the Broncos. Picture: Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images

Brisbane centre Kotoni Staggs has been praised for his team-first focus after a week filled with off-field drama.

Staggs was interviewed on Wednesday by the NRL's integrity unit after a sensitive video was released online without his consent on Tuesday.

While police are understood to be speaking to the person who released the video and could press charges, the 21-year-old has been given the all-clear to line up for the Broncos in Friday's NRL grudge match against South Sydney.

Broncos captain Patrick Carrigan, who has been a teammate of Staggs since they were 16, said the way he had handled the drama was laudable.

"While everything that happened probably wasn't ideal his main concern was not being distracted on Friday night," Carrigan said.

"That's the sort of player he is.

"I hope everything gets cleared up for him but regardless of whatever happens I've got his back at the end of the day. I think he'll be alright."

Staggs wasn't the only Bronco having to deal with off-field drama during the week with Tevita Pangai Jnr taking to social media to shoot down a rumour he'd been shopping himself to the Sydney Roosters.

The 24-year-old admitted he had spoken to Roosters chairman Nick Politis but only in a personal way, and not in an attempt to engineer a move to the premiers.

"He's obviously got a relationship with Nick," Carrigan said.

"As long as it's for all the right reasons, like I'm sure it is, then I'm not sure why you'd worry at the end of the day.

"The footy world is a big world and people are going to know a lot of people."