Shane Richardson says he holds no fears about stepping into his new role as the NRL's head of game strategy and development, laughing off suggestions he covered up an incident involving John Sutton and Luke Burgess in the US.

Fairfax Media can reveal an intoxicated Sutton and Burgess were asked to leave Cuvee 928 Wine Bar and Restaurant in Flagstaff at 1.30am on November 30.

It is believed a minor incident between Burgess and security occurred shortly after the pair were asked to leave.

Burgess did not throw a punch while Sutton was not involved.

The players were arrested for disorderly behaviour.

"There was no cover up in any way, shape or form," Richardson told Fairfax Media as he made his return to Sydney having spent time in the US.

"The fact we didn't unleash it to the media was because it was a breach of a code of conduct. The club made the decision. The board, the NRL's integrity unit, the coaching staff, the players, their managers were all told when the breaches went out."

Burgess and Sutton were locked up by police for eight hours before the charges were withdrawn.

Both players were fined a significant amount by South Sydney while Sutton has since had the captaincy stripped. The premiers travelled to Arizona at the end of November for an 18-day high-altitude training camp.

"They breached the players' code of conduct," Richardson said. "For being out after hours. If the charges hadn't been withdrawn we would've announced it there and then. There was no brawl in a hotel."

Richardson was chief executive of the Rabbitohs at the time of the incident. He has since been appointed the NRL's head of game strategy and development, a role he begins in March. His replacement at the club, John Lee, started on Monday.

The NRL's integrity unit said they were "satisfied" with the way the Rabbitohs handled the matter.

Richardson said he was unconcerned about walking into his new role at the game's headquarters.

"We went through the right channels," Richardson said. "We informed the board and the integrity unit. The [NRL] know all about it. There is [no concern] from headquarters about this incident."

Richardson backed coach Michael Maguire, who said the incident was a factor in Sutton losing the captaincy to Greg Inglis. It is understood Sutton's captaincy was already in a precarious state before his boozy night out.

"Other things were involved in that as well," Richardson said in reference to Sutton. "Not necessarily related to any code of conduct breaches."

Souths announced on January 21 that Sutton had been axed as captain in favour of Inglis, while Burgess, a day earlier, had made a late off-season switch to Manly.