Two team rules breaches is the reason behind the Toronto Wolfpack releasing former Canberra Raider Dave Taylor just weeks before their season began.
Taylor, Fuifui Moimoi and Ryan Bailey were all released for what's believed to be twice breaking team protocols while they were on a week-long training camp in Portugal.
The former Queensland State of Origin forward was the Wolfpack's star signing, as they look to gain promotion to the English Super League.
Taylor will return to Australia to weigh up his future and whether the 29-year-old will look to continue his playing career either in the NRL or at a lower level.
Given his colourful past, any deal with an NRL club would come under the scrutiny of the NRL integrity unit.
It's believed the former Kangaroos forward was in good shape and training well ahead of the season.
He played 11 NRL games for the Raiders last year before signing a reported $1 million, three-year contract with Toronto.
Meanwhile, Raiders winger Jordan Rapana said sidelined hooker Josh Hodgson was an important part of the Green Machine, but his knee injury could open the door for their halves to take more leadership on the field.
Hodgson tore his anterior cruciate ligament in England's semi-final win over Tonga at the World Cup last year.
A best-case scenario would see him return to the field late in the season.
Rapana said there could be a positive for halves Aidan Sezer and Blake Austin being forced into taking their leadership to another level.
"Hodgo's an important part of our team and we know what we can do with him when he's on the field, but with the players that we've recruited and especially for our halves ... they'll have a lot more control and a lot more leadership on the field so I'm excited to see how we go," he said.
"I have full faith in everyone that [Raiders coach Ricky Stuart's] signed."
With back-up hooker Kurt Baptiste leaving for Super League club Leigh, Stuart has brought in Craig Garvey and Siliva Havili to try and fill the massive hole left by their injured world-class hooker.
But Hodgson has been helping out with bringing the pair up to speed and Raiders forward Joe Tapine felt they were starting to "look sharp".
Both Tapine and Rapana have returned to training after their break following the World Cup campaigns with New Zealand.
They now have less than a month before the Raiders' only trial against the Canterbury Bulldogs on the Sunshine Coast on February 17.
The Green Machine then has their first game of the season proper against the Gold Coast Titans on the Gold Coast on March 11.
"They're good, Hodgo's been helping them along as well. So he's out there kind of coaching and they're looking sharp out of dummy half and all the forwards are looking sharp as well," Tapine said.
"They've been putting in a lot of good work while we're away."
