Broncos boss angry over attack
Laine Clark | September 12, 2007 - 4:55PM
Broncos boss Bruno Cullen has revealed how close he came to an incident in which Seven Network reporter Ben Davis was assaulted during a live cross outside Melbourne's Olympic Park.
The Brisbane chief executive has also urged Melbourne to ban the offenders from home games if they are found to be Storm supporters after three men were arrested by Victorian police yesterday.
Cullen said he walked out of the ground following Brisbane's 40-0 qualifying final loss on Sunday night to get a lift into the city from the Seven Network, only to find a flustered Davis.
"Ben came along and I said 'what's wrong with you' and he said 'I've just got stitched up'," Cullen said.
"He virtually went from that (assault) to me. I was with Ben within five minutes of it happening.
"His face was flushed, he had mud on his shoes. He told me all about it on the way back into town."
Victorian police expect to charge at least two men over the assault in which Davis was tackled to the ground as he crossed to Seven's Brisbane studio during Sunday's evening news.
Davis suffered an injured wrist in the attack, which was captured by Seven's cameras.
One of the offenders could be seen in the Seven footage wearing a Broncos jersey but Cullen doubted whether he was a Brisbane supporter.
"Sceptics have told me when people do things like that they put the opposition's jumper on to give them a bagging - now I am not suggesting that is the case but it is disappointing (it happened)," he said.
"I wouldn't have thought he was a Broncos supporter as such - it might be someone from Melbourne who bought a jumper and went along.
"But no matter what jersey he was wearing, it was sad to see it happen, a disgraceful episode."
A Victorian police spokesman said three men were arrested and interviewed by Melbourne Criminal Investigation Unit detectives yesterday and later released.
Two of the men, a 28-year-old from Docklands and a 25-year-old from Preston, were expected to be charged on summons with one count each of unlawful assault.
The third man, 23, also of Preston, was released pending further inquiries.
Cullen urged Melbourne to ban the offenders from Storm home games if "they know them".
"I hope they cop the correct punishment from the law and I encourage Melbourne Storm to do something about it if they are regulars and they know them or they are season ticket holders," he said.
Davis will cover the North Queensland Cowboys' semi-final against the New Zealand Warriors at Townsville on Sunday.
The Seven Network will hire guards to accompany him amid fears of a copycat incident.
http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/new...gry-over-attack/2007/09/12/1189276794753.html
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