Private eye to investigate Bulldogs bar stoush
IN THE NRL, when it rains it generally pours, and at the Bulldogs it generally hails as well. With the club struggling on the field, off it they have also been thrown a fresh setback with allegations that a player was involved in a brawl in Cronulla at the weekend.
The club has commissioned a private eye to investigate the incident, which occurred late on Sunday night - just a little more than 24 hours after the team was beaten 40-22 by the Warriors, their 12th loss of the season.
The Herald understands Lee Te Maari, Ben Roberts, Reni Maitua and Nick Youngquest - and players from other NRL clubs - were at the Sting Bar at Cronulla when a fight broke out between one member of their group and another party.
Bulldogs chief executive Todd Greenberg said the independent investigator was expected to finalise his report on the incident today. "They had a day off [yesterday], so I've got no problems with them being out that night and I've got no problems with them having a few beers," Greenberg said. "There were lots of NRL players there.
"Obviously there was some sort of altercation at closing time and it's my understanding the issue was over a girl. We've initiated an investigation and certainly should the [allegations] prove to be correct, we'd be concerned about the nature of the complaint."
The bar's licensee, Pasquali Traino, said there had been a push-and-shove and the players were asked to leave the premises. He said no punches were thrown.
"These guys [making the allegations] are talking up a low tide," Traino said. "I've got no idea what happened outside but the blokes never gave me a problem. It was just an argument between some chick and one of them. We said it was time to go, and there was a push-and-shove, then they left. People are blowing this way out of proportion.
"They came in, ordered pizzas and they were fine. It was just something to do with some broad. She left, everything was fine. Then we closed right on 11."
Still, the allegations come with the club trying desperately to clean up its off-field image. The Bulldogs have a chequered history off the field in recent seasons, as do a number of the players who were out on the night in question. Roberts was charged with assault after an incident in Wollongong in February. Also there was Te Maari, believed to be central to the fight on Sunday.
Maitua has been involved in several alcohol-related incidents. His manager, Gavin Orr, however, said last night his client had done nothing wrong on this occasion.
"He was there, but he didn't get into any altercation," Orr said. "I've spoken to Reni and he's disappointed that his name's been brought up."
Meanwhile, Bulldogs coach Steve Folkes has confirmed Toyota Cup whiz Ben Barba may be called up to his squad for Monday night's clash with the Dragons after he scored two more tries in the under-20s competition as the top squad struggled on Saturday.
"It's possible," Follkes said. "He scored two brilliant tries on the weekend and he's obviously a talent. But his attitude to the other part of the game is not as good as we'd like."
Asked yesterday if he had improved his attitude towards defence, Folkes said: "Not that I've noticed. But he knows what he needs to do. He's an out-of-the-box talent. It's just a matter of him improving his attitude to the defensive side of things - I've got no doubt he'll be a first-grader."
Barba has scored 27 tries this season - a Bulldogs club record in any grade.
"The last time I saw a player with that ability was Sonny Bill Williams," Orr said. "I'd like to think the club will give him a run in first grade before the end of the year."
And St George Illawarra may lose another player overseas, with utility Rangi Chase the subject of three substantial offers from Super League clubs.
Orr, who is also Chase's manager, will meet Dragons officials tomorrow, after which he expects to make a swift decision. Chase is believed to be edging closer to a move.
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