North Queensland Cowboys boss Peter Parr has denied reports the club's rookie of the year Steve Rapira had his jaw broken by a teammate during Mad Monday shenanigans last month.

A disappointed Parr confirmed Rapira and his flatmate and friend James Tamou had come to blows but denied Rapira's jaw had been broken or that the disagreement happened on Mad Monday after the Cowboys final game of the season against the Roosters.

"It was a disagreement between two best friends, how long has that being going?," said Parr when asked about the report in the latest issue of Rugby League Week.

"It wasn't serious. The coach knew about it, I informed our chairman and I talked to the two players concerned and neither wanted it to go any further.

"It didn't happen in public, it happened at their flat after they'd been out and I didn't think it was all that serious.

"We only knew about it because he turned up for training the next day sporting a shiner."

The club sent Rapira, a former junior Kiwi and brother of Warriors forward Sam, for an x-ray as a precaution.

"Altercations between brothers and best mates have been going on for a long time.

"They're still living together and still great mates.

"As if we would cover up a teammate breaking another player's jaw.

"To think you can cover things up these days is absolutely ridiculous.

"If I thought it was serious we would have acted on it."

NRL chief operating officer Graham Annesley contacted Parr on Wednesday about the report and was satisfied with his explanation.

"The two players were out privately not in a group," said Annesley.

"They've settled it between themselves, they're still living together and still best mates and the Cowboys didn't consider it to be a major incident.

"There was no cover-up, they just felt it was settled between the two individuals and we are happy to accept that."

Brought to you by AAP © 2024 AAP