The Raiders are now facing yet another embarrassing crisis after sacked player Steve Irwin revealed the club's management asked him to lie to save Todd Carney from jail time.
The claims come less than 24 hours after Carney was cleared of an assault charge by police, while teammate Bronx Goodwin was charged with two counts of assault and suspended by the club indefinitely.
Irwin was sensationally punted by the club in June 2007 when he, along with Carney, was caught by police after a high-speed chase.
Carney, who was driving the vehicle, fled on foot when the car reached a dead-end - leaving Irwin to answer to police.
Carney was eventually caught and charged with driving with a suspended licence, but the brilliant, but troubled, halfback was protected by the club while Irwin was hung out to dry.
In a News Limited report, Irwin claims the club instructed him to lie to police, and tell them Carney had not been drinking - despite sharing drinks with him earlier that night.
"I lied to police for him and I haven't heard from him since. No 'thank you'," Irwin, now retired from rugby league, told News Limited.
"Key figures at Canberra told me to lie."
"Canberra told me that I had to say to police that I asked Todd to drive. That was so he would only be charged with being unlicensed and wouldn't go to jail.
"I was worried about Todd going to jail.
"They asked me to say he wasn't pissed and that would keep him out of jail. Todd was begging me not to go to jail.
"He was sending text messages saying we have to stick to our story.
"They said to say he hadn't been drinking. They were going to deduct me a day's pay for drinking while injured. That was all.
"Three days later I was in a cafe being sacked.
"I lost a contract worth $80,000."
The explosive claims have left Raiders' management fuming, with Chairman John McIntyre fervently denying any cover-up.
"Absolute bloody rubbish," McIntyre told News Limited.
"Irwin lacks credibility and discipline. That's why he has retired from footy. Wynnum (in Brisbane) didn't want him."
Irwin's claims could force police to re-open their investigation, while the Raiders' will today hold an emergency meeting to determine the fate of Carney and Goodwin in the wake of Sunday night's embarrassing events at the All Bar Nun.
Carney was alleged to have urinated on a fellow patron at the Canberra establishment, but the complaint was later withdrawn after Carney was interviewed by Canberra police.
Meanwhile, Goodwin's days in the Canberra colours appear to be over after he was charged with two counts of assault following an alleged altercation outside the same bar.
Goodwin will face court at a date yet to be determined.
