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Read the last paragraph. Seems to me, 1 person is taking all the blame, where the blame should lie with 2 of them ?. As usual, the Dragon takes all the heat, whilst the tall poppy, gets rescued. :roll:
Origin star admits 3am sex call
By ANTHONY PETERSON and MICHELLE CAZZULINO
May 21, 2004
RUGBY league star Mark Gasnier was expelled from the NSW State of Origin squad in disgrace yesterday after admitting he left an obscene voice message on a woman's mobile phone.
His club, St George Illawarra, last night also fined and indefinitely suspended the 22-year-old centre as the game was rocked by its latest scandal involving how players treat women.
The dramatic developments came after ARL chief executive Geoff Carr earlier yesterday had said allegations that an Origin player made the sexually explicit call -- just hours after a league forum to teach top players to better respect women -- were false.
But the lid came off the crisis about midday when team officials heard the voice message left for a 27-year-old woman, asking her in explicit terms to have group sex with four players.
They then confronted Gasnier, who conceded he made the call using Origin teammate Anthony Minichiello's mobile phone at 3.41am on Wednesday. Minichiello had told officials his phone was lost and he had not made the call.
Last night, Gasnier issued a statement in which he apologised for his actions.
"I will make contact with the person to personally apologise," he said.
"I was under the influence of alcohol but I understand I have to be responsible for my actions."
Gasnier, the nephew of league legend Reg Gasnier, also said he had apologised to his girlfriend, family and the Dragons for his misdemeanour.
"I have paid a huge price for my actions in the circumstances," he said. "It has been my life ambition to play State of Origin."
The new crisis to hit the game -- just weeks after police announced they had insufficient evidence to prosecute up to six Bulldogs players over rape claims -- erupted after an Origin team bonding night.
The 27-year-old Sydney woman awoke on Wednesday to hear a message on her mobile phone which had come from Minichiello's mobile phone.
In the message, Gasnier said there were four men in a taxi looking for sex. Their names were not mentioned.
NRL boss David Gallop yesterday did not hide his disappointment at a time when the game is spending $1 million to improve players' attitudes towards women.
He foreshadowed further penalties. Gasnier also could face a fine or a suspension from the NRL.
"Respect for women could not have been any higher on the agenda for everyone in the game," Mr Gallop said. "Commonsense was to have a few beers and go to bed."
The woman, who hasn't met Gasnier, told The Daily Telegraph she had mixed emotions about the outcome.
"I feel, I guess, a bit bad about [the severity of Gasnier's punishment], but they're representatives, and they've got to learn how to respect women," she said.
"I didn't really ask for anything -- I just was reporting it because it was a disgusting message and I wanted it on the record just to make known that you can't talk to people like that."
Reg Gasnier expressed surprise when told of his nephew's expulsion. Earlier yesterday, Mr Carr was quick to denounce The Daily Telegraph for reporting a "massive beat up" that the woman involved had complained to Minichiello's Roosters' club call.
Mr Carr said he believed Minichiel lo's story he lost his phone at the casino. But casino staff examined footage and did not find any evidence of his phone being lost or stolen.
Mr Carr said there was only one voice on the message and the call was made before Gasnier caught a taxi.
However, The Daily Telegraph maintains there are two different voices on the message
Origin star admits 3am sex call
By ANTHONY PETERSON and MICHELLE CAZZULINO
May 21, 2004
RUGBY league star Mark Gasnier was expelled from the NSW State of Origin squad in disgrace yesterday after admitting he left an obscene voice message on a woman's mobile phone.
His club, St George Illawarra, last night also fined and indefinitely suspended the 22-year-old centre as the game was rocked by its latest scandal involving how players treat women.
The dramatic developments came after ARL chief executive Geoff Carr earlier yesterday had said allegations that an Origin player made the sexually explicit call -- just hours after a league forum to teach top players to better respect women -- were false.
But the lid came off the crisis about midday when team officials heard the voice message left for a 27-year-old woman, asking her in explicit terms to have group sex with four players.
They then confronted Gasnier, who conceded he made the call using Origin teammate Anthony Minichiello's mobile phone at 3.41am on Wednesday. Minichiello had told officials his phone was lost and he had not made the call.
Last night, Gasnier issued a statement in which he apologised for his actions.
"I will make contact with the person to personally apologise," he said.
"I was under the influence of alcohol but I understand I have to be responsible for my actions."
Gasnier, the nephew of league legend Reg Gasnier, also said he had apologised to his girlfriend, family and the Dragons for his misdemeanour.
"I have paid a huge price for my actions in the circumstances," he said. "It has been my life ambition to play State of Origin."
The new crisis to hit the game -- just weeks after police announced they had insufficient evidence to prosecute up to six Bulldogs players over rape claims -- erupted after an Origin team bonding night.
The 27-year-old Sydney woman awoke on Wednesday to hear a message on her mobile phone which had come from Minichiello's mobile phone.
In the message, Gasnier said there were four men in a taxi looking for sex. Their names were not mentioned.
NRL boss David Gallop yesterday did not hide his disappointment at a time when the game is spending $1 million to improve players' attitudes towards women.
He foreshadowed further penalties. Gasnier also could face a fine or a suspension from the NRL.
"Respect for women could not have been any higher on the agenda for everyone in the game," Mr Gallop said. "Commonsense was to have a few beers and go to bed."
The woman, who hasn't met Gasnier, told The Daily Telegraph she had mixed emotions about the outcome.
"I feel, I guess, a bit bad about [the severity of Gasnier's punishment], but they're representatives, and they've got to learn how to respect women," she said.
"I didn't really ask for anything -- I just was reporting it because it was a disgusting message and I wanted it on the record just to make known that you can't talk to people like that."
Reg Gasnier expressed surprise when told of his nephew's expulsion. Earlier yesterday, Mr Carr was quick to denounce The Daily Telegraph for reporting a "massive beat up" that the woman involved had complained to Minichiello's Roosters' club call.
Mr Carr said he believed Minichiel lo's story he lost his phone at the casino. But casino staff examined footage and did not find any evidence of his phone being lost or stolen.
Mr Carr said there was only one voice on the message and the call was made before Gasnier caught a taxi.
However, The Daily Telegraph maintains there are two different voices on the message
