League great's big 'fear' after Broncos backlash

Rugby league great James Graham has revealed his concern for the code's future after the furore behind Adam Reynolds and Patrick Carrigan's public scuffle.

The two Broncos stars were captured wrestling aggressively on a night out, with the CCTV aired on 9News also showing other Broncos players involved.

The two men fronted up and apologised in a press conference on Tuesday along with coach Kevin Walters.

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Graham suggested it'd be hardly any different to the wrestling that happens at training, stating on The Bye Round Podcast: "that's how I'd frame it ... I'm just getting my extras in."

Told that no one would accept that, Graham replied the apology shouldn't have been accepted.

"Because it's just bollocks and they know it's bollocks," he said.

"Even poor Kevvie (Walters) has to front the media, I feel genuinely sorry for these people. They should hook them up to a lie detector test and be like, 'Are you sorry?' And they're like 'yeah'."

With the incident between Carrigan and Reynolds filmed by a member of the public and leaked on social media, the former Dragons and Bulldogs prop went on to suggest it could have ramifications for how players interact with fans on nights out.

"All that's going to come at this is now the Broncos players aren't going to be able to go anywhere or if they do it's going to be (restricted)," he said.

"This is where rugby league's going to go and I fear for the game. It's going to be all roped off and you're not going to see them knocking around in places ... they're trying to keep that normality and working class connection.

"But what happens the next time Broncos players go for a drink? Isn't it nice for the rugby league fan to be able to approach their heroes in the street and get a photograph with them? Maybe have a beer with them, maybe buy them a beer. It's going to go. It's something we're going to lose.

"It boggles my mind that Pat Carrigan and Adam Reynolds had to front up and put on this phony apology."