Five Gold Coast players facing drug charges should be allowed to play after their court appearances, Titans coach Neil Henry says.
The Gold Coast mentor has revealed his concern for the quintet, saying isolation is affecting them after they were stood down with the cocaine scandal sweeping through Queensland sport.
Beau Falloon and Jamie Dowling will face Southport Magistrates Court next Thursday, two days before the Titans' NRL season opener against Wests Tigers.
And State of Origin stars Greg Bird and Dave Taylor plus outside back Kalifa Faifai Loa are set to appear on March 9.
The matters are expected to take up to two years to resolve but Henry believed the players should be given the green light to play after their initial court appearance.
"There's been players who've had to go to court but they've still played, they haven't been stood down, in a variety of codes, not just rugby league," Henry said.
"In fact, playing football and being around their mates will be a real bonus.
"The isolation at the moment is making it really difficult for our players."
Queensland's Crime and Corruption Commission (CCC) announced more arrests could be made by the end of this week or early next week as part of their investigation into the state's cocaine trafficking syndicate that has already claimed players in two codes.
Apart from the Titans players, Queensland Reds' code hopper Karmichael Hunt has become embroiled in the scandal.
And rumours have also linked four Broncos NRL players.
There is speculation that Brisbane will be the next NRL club engulfed in the scandal after some bookmarkers suspended betting on their NRL season opener against South Sydney next week.
Brisbane's official line is that they are "not concerned" by the speculation after having no contact from Queensland police or crime authorities.
And it was a line veteran backrower Corey Parker stuck to on Thursday.
"It is a frenzy," he said.
"All you guys (media) are here tiptoeing around the same question.
"But all it is innuendo and rumours.
"I have got nothing else for you (on the topic)."
When asked whether he was shocked that Broncos players' names had been caught up in the rumours, Parker said: "What names are they?
"You are talking about names that are floating around but you can't give me one of them.
"It's rumour and innuendo until those names are specified or they are tapped on the shoulder.
"There is nothing else for me to say."
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