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Brent Read and Angus Hohenboken | June 30, 2009
THE culture at the Sydney Roosters was under attack last night after two players were charged over an incident that allegedly left a woman with concussion and bruising to her face.
The players, hooker Jake Friend and rookie Sandor Earl, are consequently in danger of having their contracts torn up.
The incident, which allegedly occurred at a Sydney nightclub as players celebrated their drought-breaking win over Cronulla on Saturday night, prompted ABC radio rugby league commentator David Morrow, whose niece Kristy Bradley was the woman involved, to launch a scathing attack on the club's culture. Bradley also apparently suffered neck and back pain.
Bradley's brother Nick, a former NRL player, was also involved. A police statement said Nick Bradley received soreness to his back and a graze to his chin.
Morrow yesterday labelled the players allegedly involved in the incident as "gutless" and said no one had bothered to check whether his niece was OK.
"What the Roosters are saying is it was just an accident. Well surely if you hit a woman, the first thing you do is check she is all right," Morrow said.
"Not one of the Rooster players did that and that's just gutless.
"It just shows you that there's a problem at the club. I think it's a total lack of discipline and I think the Roosters are probably where they are because they are a club that is basically out of control."
The Roosters have endured a horrid season. The club is languishing at the bottom of the NRL ladder with only a handful of wins. Several of its high-profile stars have under performed and there has been ongoing speculation over the future of Mark O'Meley and Willie Mason. If that wasn't bad enough, club captain Braith Anasta suffered a season-ending ankle injury two weeks ago.
Coach and club legend Brad Fittler has also been under constant scrutiny amid speculation he could be replaced as a result of the poor performances. The pressure caused the coach to go on a bender in Townsville where police were called as he attempted to enter the wrong room at his hotel.
The Roosters recently hired another club legend, Immortal Arthur Beetson - to help Fittler through a difficult period in his coaching career.
The latest incident allegedly involving Friend and Earl, who made his first grade debut against the Sharks, only compounds the club's problems.
Friend, in particular, is facing an uncertain future. Earlier this year he was fined and suspended by the club following a drink driving conviction.
Police media released a statement late yesterday confirming two people had been charged - only 24 hours after Fittler defended his players when revelations of the incident first emerged. Fittler said his players had told him Friend had done nothing wrong. However, police confirmed a charge had been laid against both Friend and Earl.
"It appears a verbal altercation occurred inside the premises between a group of men and a 29-year-old Leichhardt man," the statement said.
"Police will allege a physical altercation ensued between the two groups and as a result the man received soreness to his back and a graze to his chin. A 31-year-old Queensland woman sustained concussion, bruising to her face, pain to her neck and back.
"Ambulance officers attended and they were treated at the scene."
Halfback Mitchell Pearce was also spoken to by police for two hours yesterday but was allowed to leave. It is understood Pearce attempted to break up the fight before being marched out of the nightclub by bouncers.
Roosters' chief executive Steve Noyce attended The Rocks police station with the players for several hours yesterday afternoon.
NRL chief executive David Gallop, who must be tearing his hair out, said he was still awaiting the club's report. The latest incident involving an NRL player continues a horrid year for the game.
Only last week former international Greg Bird was sentenced to eight months in jail for glassing his girlfriend. Bird is out on bail after appealing the decision.
The NRL has also had to endure a series of controversies involving the Cronulla club, which culminated in the recent resignation of chief executive Tony Zappia.
Friend and Earl have been granted conditional bail to appear at Downing Centre Local Court on July 20.
THE culture at the Sydney Roosters was under attack last night after two players were charged over an incident that allegedly left a woman with concussion and bruising to her face.
The players, hooker Jake Friend and rookie Sandor Earl, are consequently in danger of having their contracts torn up.
The incident, which allegedly occurred at a Sydney nightclub as players celebrated their drought-breaking win over Cronulla on Saturday night, prompted ABC radio rugby league commentator David Morrow, whose niece Kristy Bradley was the woman involved, to launch a scathing attack on the club's culture. Bradley also apparently suffered neck and back pain.
Bradley's brother Nick, a former NRL player, was also involved. A police statement said Nick Bradley received soreness to his back and a graze to his chin.
Morrow yesterday labelled the players allegedly involved in the incident as "gutless" and said no one had bothered to check whether his niece was OK.
"What the Roosters are saying is it was just an accident. Well surely if you hit a woman, the first thing you do is check she is all right," Morrow said.
"Not one of the Rooster players did that and that's just gutless.
"It just shows you that there's a problem at the club. I think it's a total lack of discipline and I think the Roosters are probably where they are because they are a club that is basically out of control."
The Roosters have endured a horrid season. The club is languishing at the bottom of the NRL ladder with only a handful of wins. Several of its high-profile stars have under performed and there has been ongoing speculation over the future of Mark O'Meley and Willie Mason. If that wasn't bad enough, club captain Braith Anasta suffered a season-ending ankle injury two weeks ago.
Coach and club legend Brad Fittler has also been under constant scrutiny amid speculation he could be replaced as a result of the poor performances. The pressure caused the coach to go on a bender in Townsville where police were called as he attempted to enter the wrong room at his hotel.
The Roosters recently hired another club legend, Immortal Arthur Beetson - to help Fittler through a difficult period in his coaching career.
The latest incident allegedly involving Friend and Earl, who made his first grade debut against the Sharks, only compounds the club's problems.
Friend, in particular, is facing an uncertain future. Earlier this year he was fined and suspended by the club following a drink driving conviction.
Police media released a statement late yesterday confirming two people had been charged - only 24 hours after Fittler defended his players when revelations of the incident first emerged. Fittler said his players had told him Friend had done nothing wrong. However, police confirmed a charge had been laid against both Friend and Earl.
"It appears a verbal altercation occurred inside the premises between a group of men and a 29-year-old Leichhardt man," the statement said.
"Police will allege a physical altercation ensued between the two groups and as a result the man received soreness to his back and a graze to his chin. A 31-year-old Queensland woman sustained concussion, bruising to her face, pain to her neck and back.
"Ambulance officers attended and they were treated at the scene."
Halfback Mitchell Pearce was also spoken to by police for two hours yesterday but was allowed to leave. It is understood Pearce attempted to break up the fight before being marched out of the nightclub by bouncers.
Roosters' chief executive Steve Noyce attended The Rocks police station with the players for several hours yesterday afternoon.
NRL chief executive David Gallop, who must be tearing his hair out, said he was still awaiting the club's report. The latest incident involving an NRL player continues a horrid year for the game.
Only last week former international Greg Bird was sentenced to eight months in jail for glassing his girlfriend. Bird is out on bail after appealing the decision.
The NRL has also had to endure a series of controversies involving the Cronulla club, which culminated in the recent resignation of chief executive Tony Zappia.
Friend and Earl have been granted conditional bail to appear at Downing Centre Local Court on July 20.
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