Taulima Tautai kept arrest a secret from Parra
By Tim Vollmer | June 20, 2009 12:00am
PARRAMATTA winger Taulima Tautai is the latest player to plunge the NRL into controversy, arrested for drink driving after being stopped for a random breath test nine days ago.
But the club yesterday claimed Tautai kept the incident a secret from management and took the field against the Wests Tigers last Monday.
It was only after Parramatta was contacted yesterday afternoon about the incident that officials confronted Tautai, who then came clean.
Tautai, awarded the club's Rookie of the Year title last year, was caught nine days ago while driving his Jeep Patriot 4WD home from the Albion Hotel in Parramatta.
He was allegedly pulled over for a random breath test about 11.50pm on Thursday, June 11, on the Great Western Highway, admitting to officers that he had drunk four schooners of beer and saying: "I thought I would be OK."
He was arrested after blowing over the limit, recording a second reading of 0.061 after being taken to Merrylands Police Station.
Despite the NRL's tough talk after a spate of sex- and alcohol-related player indiscretions, the club has refused to say whether the 21-year-old will be fined or stood down.
Late yesterday, Eels acting chief executive Andrew Hill said Tautai had disclosed the incident only yesterday afternoon after being confronted with the allegations.
The scandal is a baptism of fire for the interim Eels boss who was handed the reins less than a fortnight ago after former boss Denis Fitzgerald was paid to walk away from the club after 30 years.
"We are certainly disappointed," Hill said.
"Common sense, we like to think, is what would be appropriate, that he wouldn't be out drinking prior to games.
"We have called the player and his management to a meeting on Monday to confirm the charge and incident and after that the club will decide on the appropriate punishment. Until that time the club has no further comment."
Hill said there were a "number of issues" that needed to be addressed, including why club management were not informed, but said that he would not speculate on any poss- ible punishment.
He said the club was continuing to work with the league to educate and address players on issues relating to alcohol.
The incident also comes only a week after a Lalor Park woman was charged with trying to extort money from Parramatta star Fuifui Moimoi following a brief sexual relationship three years ago.
Police allege she demanded $15,000 hush money from the club, although the woman said she simply wanted an apology from Moimoi following the recent Matthew Johns sex scandal.
