Tigers duo arrested outside Coogee Bay Hotel after allegedly abusing police
By Sarah Keoghan
January 31, 2021 — 4.55pm
Wests Tigers duo AJ Kepaoa and Zane Musgrove have been arrested after allegedly abusing police outside a pub in Sydney’s eastern suburbs in the early hours of Sunday morning.
Both players were released without charge, with Kepaoa receiving a $550 fine.
NSW Police said officers attended the Coogee Bay Hotel just before 3am on Sunday morning, where they spoke to security officers who had refused entry to a number of patrons.
“Police spoke to a group of people outside, directing them to leave the vicinity when two men allegedly became abusive, refusing to do so,” a NSW Police statement said.
They were taken to Maroubra Police Station before being released shortly after. NSW Police say further action is expected with inquiries continuing. The Tigers say they have been made aware of the incident.
“Wests Tigers are working cooperatively with the NRL Integrity Unit and NSW Police on the matter and will be making no further comment at this time,” the club wrote in a statement.
It is not the first time Musgrove has come to grief at the Coogee nightspot. In 2018, Musgrove and former Penrith reserve-grader Liam Coleman were charged with indecently assaulting a woman on the dancefloor. Two charges were dropped but the duo were found guilty of assault in October 2019, before being acquitted on appeal in April 2020.
In December, the Tigers re-signed Musgrove on a three-year deal until the end of 2024. The former Rabbitoh played just six games for the Tigers in 2020 after a two-year hiatus from the game due to an ongoing foot injury.
At the time of the re-signing, coach Michael Maguire sang the youngster’s praises for being able to turn his career around.
“I’m really happy to see Zane re-sign with the club for another three years,” he said. “I know how hard Zane has had to work to get to this point in his career and I have no doubt that his best football is still ahead of him.
“Zane’s presence and leadership around the organisation has grown a lot in the past few years, and he has a tremendous hunger to be successful in all that he does — constantly raising the standards of himself and those around him.
“He is a player with a great work ethic who adds a lot to our side overall and I’m looking forward to watching him develop for many years to come.”
https://www.smh.com.au/sport/nrl/ti...allegedly-abusing-police-20210131-p56y7p.html
