Dragons NRL player Zane Musgrove broke a self-imposed booze ban before Mikaele Ravalawa fight

Dragons mainstay Zane Musgrove has revealed he broke a self-imposed alcohol ban on the infamous night he clashed with NRL teammate Mikaele Ravalawa after a night on the booze.

The Dragons have come under fire again after the 6am fight outside a team hotel in Mudgee following the club’s 42-24 loss to South Sydney in the Charity Shield.

The duo needed to be calmed down by their teammates during the incident, which is the latest black eye for the embattled club.

After a scandal-plagued 2022 season, the club has suffered an offseason that saw Talatau Amone resign indefinitely, Cody Ramsey ruled himself out due to illness, and head coach Anthony Griffin under increasing pressure.

Now Musgrove, who joined the Wests Dragons in the offseason, has admitted to the Sydney Morning Herald that he chose to break his off-season alcohol ban at the worst possible time.

Mikaele Ravalawa (centre) has been a try-scoring machine for the Dragons and has apologized for his role in the morning’s discussion.

Zane Musgrove was signed from Wests Tigers to add more mongrels to the Dragons package for the 2023 season

The series of behavioral issues off the field is piling pressure on coach Anthony Griffin and the Dragons need results on the field as well.

“I didn’t touch a drop,” Musgrove said.

‘I was out of drink for a while. I slipped up and apologized to the guys and we’re looking to move on now. We treat it like a club and we’ve had our meetings. Mika and I, like the boys, have to quit now.

Ravalawa claimed to have few recollections of the incident, but regretted it when asked about his role in the heated confrontation.

“I was really upset with myself,” Ravalawa said.

I was so stupid and let the club and the team down. I want to get back on the field this year, go in there and show them how sorry I am. I am very upset with myself. I don’t remember, that’s why I’m upset.

It was just a discussion about the game. At the beginning of the season you shouldn’t be drinking as much. It was stupid, too.

Mikaele Ravalawa stretches in an attempt to score a try in the Charity Shield. He has apologized for letting the team down.

Talatau Amone has been withdrawn by the NRL after police charged him with a series of serious offences.

Cody Ramsey receives assist from the pitch after injuring his knee during the round 19 NRL match between St George Illawarra Dragons and Manly Warringah Sea Eagles in 2022

The Dragons winger said the pair had put the incident behind them and were back to being friends.

“We’re really good,” Ravalawa said. ‘

‘We got back on the bus and we were chatting again. We’re pretty much the best of friends and he’s a teammate.

Musgrove also said there were no lingering issues between the couple.

‘No problem. When I arrived at the club, we were immediately close. We hung out and it was just one of those things that happened.

Former Dragons captain James Graham has been critical of his former club

It comes after former Dragons captain James Graham was furious over the leak of the raid to the media.

Speaking on Triple M radio, Graham complained that a ‘snitch’ in the ranks was a much bigger problem than the confrontation itself.

“My problem with this is who is the herb that has gone and leaked it,” Graham said.

‘Who’s the snitch? Why do you go and tell the media?

‘Because it wasn’t a problem. Nothing broke, no one was hurt, no one caused a disruption. No members of the public were affected by this.

‘What little snitch went to the media and said there was a fight at 6am? Who is the snitch?

That is the problem that the dragons must solve. Not fixing if there is a problem with teammates.