Wests Tigers star James Roberts is being investigated by the NRL for breaching Queensland's COVID-19 protocols while in quarantine in a Gold Coast hotel.
It comes after Queensland's chief medical officer Jeannette Young last week warned she was close to revoking the NRL's border exemptions to keep the competition running in the state.
In a move that could further jeopardise the fragile relationship between the NRL and the Queensland government, Roberts was spotted using the balcony in his hotel room despite a clear directive to stay indoors.
Queensland Health ordered NRL families and staff quarantined in hotels on Saturday to tape up their balcony doors, banning the use of the outdoor space or even opening the doors for fresh air.
The tighter restrictions followed an incident in which families were spotted handing supplies to each other over the balconies.
On Tuesday, Roberts was photographed on his balcony which was reported to the NRL.
"The NRL has today reported a breach of the current balcony directive to Queensland Health by Wests Tigers player James Roberts," said a statement via the club.
"The NRL and Wests Tigers are providing James with additional wellbeing support to assist him in coping with quarantine and will continue to work closely with Queensland Health."
The 28-year-old Roberts is reportedly struggling with the conditions of the hard lock down and has previously battled mental health issues.
Last season he sought help in a mental health facility during the COVID-19 shut down.
The former representative centre was unable to travel to Queensland and into the NRL bubble with his teammates after he was forced into a 14-day quarantine for attending a supermarket in Sydney that was later deemed a COVID-19 exposure site.
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