Misryoum reports North Queensland Cowboys CEO Michael Luck condemns fake AI posts claiming false health and personal news about players.
A wave of fake AI-generated posts is spreading across NRL social media, and North Queensland Cowboys CEO Michael Luck says the content is “highly disturbing.”
Misryoum reports Luck’s comments came after the Cowboys Fan Hub Facebook page allegedly shared inaccurate material about club identity. including claims that Johnathan Thurston had been diagnosed with cancer.. Luck moved quickly to reject the rumours and pointed to the growing reach of fake accounts targeting players. past and present. along with their partners.
In Luck’s view. the problem is not just misinformation. but the way it is being used to provoke and exploit attention.. He said the Cowboys had received multiple reports from within their playing group and from families who saw the posts circulating on social platforms. with some of the allegations framed in provocative terms.
This matters because in a sport where communities form around real people and real stories, AI-driven falsehoods can cause lasting harm even after they are debunked.
Meanwhile, the Cowboys were not the only NRL club to be targeted. Misryoum reports a Facebook page linked to Brisbane Broncos fandom allegedly posted outrageous claims about Pat Carrigan’s family, while other reports have circulated in connection with players across the competition.
Misryoum also notes the wider environment has raised concerns before, including earlier incidents involving AI-generated images that prompted legal action. In that context, players and their representatives have treated fabricated content as a serious issue, not merely an online nuisance.
Beyond the immediate denial. Misryoum understands the league is aware of the fake accounts and working with major social media platforms to remove wildly inaccurate pages.. The response underscores how quickly AI can be used to fabricate credible-looking updates at scale. turning social feeds into a battleground for trust.
The key insight here is that strong enforcement and rapid takedowns are becoming essential as AI tools make misinformation easier to produce and harder to contain.
Misryoum will keep monitoring developments as clubs and governing bodies respond to the latest round of false posts and rumours moving through NRL online communities.