The Mole: Match Official Involved in Politis-Bouris Controversy Slams ‘Disgraceful’ Result and Contemplates Legal Action

High-profile Roosters officials Nick Politis and Mark Bouris have avoided any sanctions from the NRL integrity unit regarding claims that they intimidated a referee during the Las Vegas tournament. However, the situation may be far from resolved.

Referee Mitchell James is outraged by the decision and has reached out to the NRL, expressing his intent to pursue the matter further.

Politis, the Roosters chairman, and Bouris, a board member, approached James after a pool game between the LA Roosters and Brisbane Veterans during the Vegas Nines event.

James claims he faced both verbal abuse and intimidation from the pair, which resulted in him being removed from officiating a subsequent match involving Greece, a team that Politis also supports.

According to a source from the NRL, an investigation by the integrity unit found no basis for the allegations against the Roosters executives. Nonetheless, the club was cautioned against interacting with match officials in the future.

The two officials from the Roosters have categorically rejected any accusations of misconduct.

“We were not confrontational; I ensured we maintained a respectful distance. We did not threaten him, nor did we hurl abuse,” Bouris stated to The Sydney Morning Herald. “We expressed our disappointment over the refereeing standards, and it’s true that Nick made similar comments. I don’t recall specifically saying that he ‘reffed us out of the game,’ as that may have come from someone else.”

Bouris further elaborated, “It’s possible he filed a formal complaint against us, but we also submitted one against him at the tournament citing poor officiating.”

The NRL’s decision has left James, who incurred his own expenses to travel to Las Vegas and officiate the event, infuriated and considering legal options.

“This just sends a terrible message—match officials face significant abuse, and for two individuals of such stature to receive nothing more than a warning is appalling,” James remarked to Wide World of Sports. “I haven’t been properly informed about the NRL’s findings.”

“I’m not going to let this go and am exploring my options,” he added.

Wide World of Sports has obtained an email from James to David Lockley, the integrity unit representative who managed the case.

In his correspondence, he stated: “Dear David, I would like to extend my gratitude for the professionalism you’ve exhibited while investigating my complaint dated March 2nd, 2025. I want to formally express my dissatisfaction with the outcome of my complaint regarding the conduct of Mr Mark Bouris, Mr Nick Politis, and the LA Roosters coach during the NRL Las Vegas 9s tournament.”

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“After investing my own time and resources to officiate this event, I was subjected to unprofessional behaviour, abuse, and unfounded accusations that led to my unjust removal from officiating duties. I detailed these concerns in my initial complaint, anticipating a fair and comprehensive response. However, the decision to merely issue the Roosters a reminder letter regarding Section 25 of the code of conduct falls well short of acknowledging the severity of what transpired. This is especially disheartening given that the NRL has issued multiple breaches of conduct this week for arguably lesser matters.”

“This response fails to recognise: the direct verbal intimidation and inappropriate remarks directed at me by the aforementioned individuals; the reputational harm resulting from unfounded allegations concerning my integrity as an official, which did not confine themselves to that particular incident but were also spread in the media afterwards; and the undue influence that resulted in my removal from an international match for reasons unrelated to my officiating performance.”

“This inadequate response creates a troubling precedent, suggesting that powerful figures within the sport can engage in misconduct with minimal consequences. This raises serious concerns regarding the NRL’s dedication to safeguarding its officials from intimidation and undue pressure, a situation that could ultimately affect grassroots levels of the sport!

“For context, a referee of mine in 2024 received a one-week suspended ban for uttering ‘shit’ to a local coach… This shows the disparity in accountability; community-level referees are held responsible while those at the upper echelons seemingly are not.”

“Given the unsatisfactory nature of this outcome, I will seek alternative routes to escalate this issue beyond the NRL, ensuring that these matters are properly addressed and maintaining the integrity of officiating within rugby league.”

“I implore the NRL to rethink its approach and take substantial actions to hold individuals accountable. A mere reminder letter is not an adequate resolution for what I went through, nor is it a positive example for the sport as a whole. I await your response.”

The NRL is aware of James’s email and has acknowledged his comments to WWOS but has chosen not to provide any further commentary.