SYDNEY - A second Newcastle Knights player has been charged with drug dealing, throwing the Australian National Rugby League club into upheaval yesterday.

SYDNEY - A second Newcastle Knights player has been charged with drug dealing, throwing the Australian National Rugby League club into upheaval yesterday.

The Knights said they had suspended forward Chris Houston indefinitely after he was charged with four counts of supplying prohibited drugs, believed to be ecstasy and cocaine.

The club said Houston was due to appear in court on April 13.

Houston's charges follow the terminating of teammate Danny Wicks' A$200000 (R1,3million)-a-year club contract with three years to run after he was charged with supplying drugs on December 16 last year.

Wicks is next due to appear in court on March 31.

Houston was suspended indefinitely by the Knights once reports of the charges emerged before his lawyers released a statement confirming them. - Sapa-AFP