Another Story has broken.
http://foxsports.news.com.au/story/0,8659,8872078-23209,00.html
Storm rape claim
By Geoff Wilkinson
March 4, 2004
TWO Melbourne Storm rugby league players are being investigated by police over an alleged rape.
They were interviewed by detectives on Wednesday.
They have been accused of raping a young woman in a South Yarra flat last month.
The new sex scandal has rocked National Rugby League chiefs still reeling from gang rape claims against Canterbury Bulldogs players.
NRL chief executive David Gallop last night said he was surprised and disappointed by the new allegation, of which he was unaware until contacted by the Herald Sun.
"I'm extremely concerned about the allegation and extremely concerned that we've only just found out about it," Mr Gallop said. "It's hard to be any more concerned than we already are, but if you could be we are."
He has now asked Storm officials for a full report.
Police sources said the rape accusation was not made immediately after the alleged offence, which occurred on February 8.
The woman involved is believed to be in her late teens or early 20s.
It is not known whether she reported the incident to police before or after the rape allegation against Canterbury players emerged on February 23.
The two Storm players are believed to have come forward after police contacted the club about the woman's claim.
They spoke to a lawyer before being interviewed by police.
Storm executive director John Ribot said last night the two players were accompanied by a club official.
"We don't expect anything to come of it," Mr Ribot said.
He had not told the NRL, despite the Canterbury controversy, because "it wasn't a club issue".
"They were in Canterbury time, but in this case they (the Storm players) were out socialising, nothing to do with the club," Mr Ribot said.
He said after the club's 2004 launch this week that its code of conduct had been tightened and the players reminded they were under intense public scrutiny.
Detectives in Sydney yesterday questioned more Bulldogs players about the alleged rape of a 20-year-old woman.
The woman has told police she was raped by up to six players at the Pacific Bay resort in Coffs Harbour on February 22.
DNA samples have been taken from many of the 25 players who have been interviewed. No charges have been laid.
Prime Minister John Howard this week appealed to the community not to judge rugby league by the alleged behaviour of a few players.
Mr Howard said he knew a lot of people linked with rugby who were decent citizens.
Storm players were reminded of their responsibilities last week by football manager Greg Brentnall. Mr Brentnall, a former Bulldogs full-back, said then that Storm believed education was the key to their behaviour on trips.
Storm has travelled to Noosa, Toowoomba and Wagga Wagga for pre-season trials recently.
Their last pre-season game is against Sydney Premier League club Newtown Jets in Sydney tomorrow.
Herald Sun
