Raiders terminate Scott's contract after nightclub incident

Canberra's board of directors have terminated the contract of centre Curtis Scott after his involvement in a nightclub incident with more than half of his four-year deal still to be completed.

The Raiders issued a statement on Monday to say the board had decided to take the action, effective immediately, after it had "carefully considered the statements made at the 'show cause' hearing with Curtis on August 17 and the material supplied afterward". 

Scott was signed by the club at the start of 2020 on a four-year deal when he was granted an early release by Melbourne.

His time in Raiders colours has been limited to just 23 appearances over the past 18 months due to suspensions, injury and poor form.

The 23-year-old was charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm over his alleged involvement in a fight in a Canberra nightclub in May, charges Scott intends to fight when his case is heard next Monday.

Scott accepted an NRL breach notice which suspended him for three games and fined him $15,000 over the incident.

He then fronted Canberra's board last week, after which it was determined that his contract would be terminated.

"The board carefully considered the statements made at the 'show cause' hearing with Curtis Scott on August 17 and the material supplied afterward," according to the Raiders statement.

"The board decided that Curtis Scott's prior behaviour and recent assault charge has brought the club into disrepute, and they could not ignore this and the responsibilities that his NRL playing contract entails.

"The board said the club would continue to support Curtis Scott’s ongoing rehabilitation and it will be in contact with NRL Welfare in this regard."

The board decided that Curtis Scott's prior behaviour and recent assault charge has brought the club into disrepute.

Raiders statement

Scott did not relocate to Queensland with the rest of Ricky Stuart's squad in July as his case was still being investigated by the NRL Integrity Unit at the time, with his last appearance for the Raiders ultimately coming in May.

Scott's career yielded a 2017 premiership ring and had him in NSW Origin discussions before he was released by Melbourne with two years remaining on his Storm deal.

His Raiders contract termination, on top of George Williams's mid-season release, will give Canberra further financial clout in their search for a top-line halfback for 2022.

Links to Mitchell Pearce are the most recent to be floated although coach Ricky Stuart told The Canberra Times he had not spoken to the Newcastle veteran as yet following the likes of Ash Taylor and Gareth Widdop holding discussions with the Raiders.

Pearce is contracted to the Knights on a reduced, one-year deal for next season, while Widdop has told the club he will remain with English Super League's Warrington in 2022.

In the meantime Canberra have been busy shoring up their future backline stocks for much of 2021 as the likes of Matt Timoko, Harley Smith-Shields and Sebastian Kris push to become NRL regulars.

As club captain and veteran centre Jarrod Croker's future is placed in doubt by a debilitating knee injury which has curtailed his form, Timoko, Kris and Semi Valemei have been re-signed until the end of 2024, while Smith-Shields is also on the books until the end of 2023.

Croker himself is contracted for the next two seasons and has a player option for 2024 as well, though an off-season knee operation is still being considered for the 30-year-old.