Assault claims push Ben Te?o to the edge
The Australian
June 05, 2014 12:00AM
BEN Te?o has revealed the pain and hurt he suffered after being accused of assaulting a young woman last season could be the catalyst for him quitting the NRL.
The Queensland and South Sydney backrower remains unsigned for next season after failing to take up an option at the Rabbitohs for next year and is exploring his options in European rugby union, Super Rugby and other NRL clubs.
Although he was later cleared of any wrongdoing, Te?o said he was still vilified by fans over the allegation, with the most recent abuse coming during Monday night?s match against St George Illawarra at ANZ Stadium.
?I played the Dragons two nights ago and someone yelled something out from the crowd concerning it,?? Te?o said. ?That?s what I?ve got to live with. About you bashed this, whatever. That?s with me now.
?I cop it on social media; I?m not saying it?s consistent, but yeah, I get it on social media, people yell it, I get it at games ? if people only knew the facts, but the facts aren?t always delivered in the media, you know what I mean???
Te?o admitted he was still carrying scars from last season after Katie Lewis accused him of punching her in the face during an incident at the home of former Brisbane turned Parramatta five-eighth Corey Norman.
The matter was investigated by Queensland police and the NRL?s Integrity Unit before Te?o was cleared. He said yesterday that he felt his innocence was not as well publicised as his alleged guilt.
The Souths backrower praised the Integrity Unit for the way they handled his case and Souths and the QRL for standing by him but said other stakeholders in the game had let him down.
Although he did not name anyone directly, it is understood Te?o is still livid with the Nine Network, which broke the story of the alleged assault. He refused to answer questions from a Nine reporter before training yesterday, calling him a ?germ?.
?It was a rough time, how people went about things,?? Te?o said. ?The aftermath, what was left, you know? There wasn?t much made of me being cleared ? Does that change the way I feel about certain things and the sport and that? Yeah, it does.
?There?s other shareholders in the game that I can?t say did the right thing by me so that?s where it is.??
Te?o admitted he had never thought about leaving the NRL until the claims arose last year. He has already confirmed to his teammates he will be moving on after they became aware of a club deadline regarding his future at Souths.
He admitted it would be a difficult decision to walk away from the NRL, particularly after cementing a position in the Queensland team since game three of the 2012 State of Origin series.
There are any number of NRL clubs that could use a player of Te?o?s experience, with Canberra just missing out on signing Melbourne backrower Kevin Proctor while St George Illawarra have been circling North Queensland?s Tariq Sims.
Switching codes is also an option and Te?o could follow teammate Sam Burgess, who has signed with English rugby union club Bath for next year with a view to playing in the World Cup. Te?o holds an English passport through his mother. ?Sam?s there, he?s already told me before that if I need advice to talk to him but I don?t talk to Sam about what I?m doing,?? Te?o said. ?He?s got no idea and at the moment I?ve got no idea either.
?Change can always be good so whether that?s a new code, whether that?s a new club, a new beginning, I don?t know.?
