Broncos say toilet sex was consensual
Jamie Pandaram and Brad Walter | September 17, 2008
BRONCOS players have denied sexually assaulting a woman in a nightclub toilet on Saturday night, claiming the act was consensual.
But the three players, who have been named to face Melbourne in Saturday night's sudden-death semi-final at Suncorp Stadium, will play the remainder of the NRL season with the allegation hanging over their heads after Queensland Police Minister Judy Spence yesterday revealed the investigation could take weeks.
It is believed that Karmichael Hunt, Darius Boyd and Sam Thaiday have been helping police with their investigations.
Speculation last night that investigators had seized the players' mobile phones in the hope of discovering footage of the incident could not be confirmed by police, but sources close to the players are adamant no filming took place.
Brisbane chief executive Bruno Cullen yesterday met detectives investigating the allegations made by a 24-year-old woman, who told police she was sexually assaulted in the male toilets of the Alhambra Lounge in inner-city Fortitude Valley on Saturday night.
The Broncos are conducting their own internal investigation into the incident, which occurred after a group of up to eight players went on a lengthy drinking session upon their arrival back in Brisbane on Saturday following the previous night's defeat of Sydney Roosters.
Queensland Premier Anna Bligh said government sponsorship would come under review if the club failed to act over player misbehaviour, and it is understood the transport department was already planning to re-evaluate its backing of the Broncos at the end of the season.
But Spence, who also doubles as the Queensland Sports Minister, urged Broncos fans not to abandon their team ahead of the 2006 grand final rematch.
"The police have got a lot of work to do before they conclude their investigation," she said. "I was talking to the acting commissioner [Kathy Rynders] this morning, and she is telling me it is likely that it will take another couple of weeks before they conclude their investigation. Until that happens I am not going to be pre-judging the actions of these players.
"I would encourage people not to pre-judge these players or the events surrounding this incident on the weekend, come along to the Broncos match this weekend."
But many readers of Fairfax's brisbanetimes.com.au website have already vented anger over the behaviour of some players, including incidents previous to Saturday night of drunken and inappropriate behaviour.
Under the club's internal code of conduct, none of the players has breached regulations by going on a drinking binge because they had been given the weekend off. They may, however, find themselves in hot water if allegations of spitting at members of the public, groping women or queue jumping at taxi stands are proved. One Broncos player has developed quite a reputation as a party animal and the club is concerned he is influencing young teammates. Without the core group of senior players Brisbane once relied on to keep the team on the straight and narrow, a drinking culture has emerged, with players regularly embarking on all-day sessions.
A behavioural expert, Griffith University's Michael Jeh, told ABC radio the club should "take a stand" and suspend the trio for binge drinking, regardless of the investigation's outcome.
But the Broncos have no plans to stand down the three after they told club officials and police that they had not sexually assaulted the woman. The only official comment from the club was in the form of a statement issued by Cullen.
"The Brisbane Broncos' internal investigation team has continued its work today on the allegations against three of its players," he said. "As advised yesterday, the team is co-operating with Queensland police in this regard.
"This morning I met with two senior police officers in charge of the police investigation and we covered the process followed to date by both parties.
"We also confirmed our resolve to work together to ensure all the facts are presented by all witnesses. The Broncos have taken further steps this afternoon to make sure this happens in an orderly and practical manner, as soon as possible."
Principal sponsor WOW Sight and Sound would not comment.
with AAP
