Lockyer faces $10k fine
By Chris Stedman, Martin Chulov and Drew Warne-Smith
March 5, 2004
AUSTRALIAN rugby league Test captain Darren Lockyer faces a fine of up to $10,000 for bringing the game into disrepute after telling a joke about the Bulldogs rape scandal at a corporate lunch yesterday.
Lockyer stunned more than 500 guests at Brisbane's Sheraton Hotel when he told a joke about the Bulldogs and legendary St George footballer Johnny Raper.
Lockyer told the function: "You know, St George, they won 11 premierships with one Raper, imagine how many Canterbury are going to win."
With league legend Raper incensed, Lockyer later apologised for his comments. "I've misjudged the situation. At no stage did I intend to demean anyone or trivialise the seriousness of events of the past few weeks."
The gaffe came as police investigating the alleged rape scandal claimed to have come up with a series of new leads yesterday after receiving prepared statements from six more players.
Deputy NSW Police Commissioner Dave Madden said investigators from Strike Force McGuigon, formed to look into the February 22 incident, would now extend their stay in Sydney.
This was partly because five players are yet to be interviewed, but also because new information provided by the players would take more time than expected to investigate.
Mr Madden said six of the nine players interviewed yesterday had "provided prepared statements".
The Australian understands that the first 11 players declined to answer police questions themselves, speaking only through their lawyers.
One player, Hazem El Masri, yesterday refused to submit a DNA sample, or provide a statement under the advice of his lawyer, Adam Houda.
"Arguably, he is the best role model in the game," Mr Houda said. "With his standing, he finds it demeaning to be involved in these types of inquiry.
"He finds it insulting to be questioned over these allegations."
Mr Houda predicted police would today seek a court order forcing El Masri to give a DNA sample but added that this was unlikely to succeed because police did not regard his client as a suspect.
At least 18 of 20 players have now declined to directly respond to police questioning.
An NRL investigator will this morning hand a report to the league hierarchy into the Bulldogs night of revelry in the hours before the alleged pack rape of the 20-year-old woman took place.
Source: The Australian
