Benji Marshall accused of rude behaviour
GREG PRICHARD
The National Rugby League has investigated a complaint from a woman who alleged the game's No. 1 player, Benji Marshall, was the ''chief offender'' among a group of players she says behaved poorly on a flight from Brisbane to Sydney last month.
Sydney-based players who had taken part in the All Stars game on the Gold Coast the night before were on board Qantas flight 529 on Sunday, February 13, which also included Jennifer Robinson and her daughter.
Mrs Robinson, in an email sent to the NRL and selected media outlets late on Thursday, said she and her daughter were ''offended by the language and behaviour of a large group of football players''.
She said she had not complained until now because she was not aware of Marshall's identity until she saw recent photographs of him in the media.
Mrs Robinson alleged Marshall, the only player she identified in the email, and other players were ''swearing loudly'', and Marshall made lewd remarks about women. She said the remarks were easily heard four or five rows away.
The Sydney Morning Herald yesterday contacted Qantas to establish whether there had been any complaints made during or after the flight. A spokesman replied: ''There were no complaints about misconduct made to us by any of the passengers, or crew.''
Mrs Robinson spoke to the SMH night from Geneva. ''I wouldn't want him [Marshall] to lose his job, but he has got a responsibility,'' Mrs Robinson said. ''He should be held accountable, and maybe make an apology.''
The NRL chief executive, David Gallop, said the league had contacted other players on the flight, who were ''unaware of anyone having been upset''. He pointed out the lack of complaints from other passengers and said ''there are no suggestions of improper language being directed at anyone''.
- Sydney Morning Herald
if only they could charge Solomon Naimey with being a f**king time wasting knob.
