Cronulla have cleared NRL stars Jack Bird and Valentine Holmes of any wrongdoing after investigating a nightclub incident in which they were allegedly king hit.
Sharks chief executive Lyall Gorman said the players were free to line up for Sunday's NRL derby against St George Illawarra at Shark Park, and would face no sanctions for the incident at the Coogee Pavillion on Sunday night.
It's alleged the pair became involved with a heated argument with a patron who they believed was verbally attacking Sydney Roosters player Shaun Kenny-Dowall, who was at the establishment having dinner with family.
The club said after a brief standoff, Bird and Holmes were hit from behind after walking away to exit the premises and Gorman said Holmes was knocked to the ground during the scuffle.
After speaking with NSW Police and the venue staff, Gorman said they believed his players had acted in the correct manner.
"We've conducted extensive interviews with the venue, police, the players themselves and reviewed CCTV footage," Gorman said.
"We can clearly say the players have nothing to answer for.
"From the outset there were no allegations against our players. They came under severe provocation, didn't retaliate and were struck by an agitated patron who was removed by security."
It's alleged Kenny-Dowall was at the establishment but was not involved in the altercation but saw it across the room.
Gorman said the club had not reviewed CCTV footage but reports from police and the venue cleared his players.
Gorman said the incident highlighted that NRL players were often provoked or the victims of aggression when out drinking or socialising.
He praised the pair for not retaliating and described them as being exemplary in showing restraint.
Sharks five-eighth and Kenny-Dowall's former Sydney Roosters teammate James Maloney said NRL players increasingly had to put up with harassment.
However he said you couldn't stop players from going out and it was up to them to deal with it in a proper manner.
"I guess you can never change people's opinions and comments, there's always going to be the odd d******* everywhere you go and we have to learn to live with it," Maloney said.
The club was only made aware of the incident when contacted by the media on Monday afternoon.
Gorman said while Holmes and Bird had acted accordingly they were spoken to by the club for not bringing it to their attention first.
The NRL said it was waiting for the club's report on the matter.
