The former Bulldog was sworn to secrecy when his teammates were accused of gang rape. To upgrade, call 1300 MY NEWS (696 397), As a Full Digital Access or Paper Delivery + Full Digital Access Member youll get unlimited digital access to every story online, insight and analysis from our expert journalists PLUS enjoy freebies, discounts and benefits with our +Rewards loyalty program. The accident occurred after Littles 24th birthday party and a blood test showed Little had a blood-alcohol level of .19, nearly twice the legal limit of .10 at that time. Canterbury Bulldogs players Sonny Bill Williams and Dennis Scott arrive at the police centre in Surry Hills to have DNA samples. Despite maintaining his innocence, NRL has controversially stood down de Belin from playing while he waits the outcome of aggravated sexual assault charges after a night out in Wollongong in December. Ruggs had those words tattooed on his leg. No charges were ever laid and all players cleared of any wrongdoing. Johnathan Thurston and Bulldogs teammates were accused of sexual assault after a night out in Coffs Harbour in 2004 Police found insufficient evidence against players and no charges were laid, but players were told to stay quiet by the club Thurston says he was not part of the group but everything was consensual The TMZ video reveals Ruggs' reaction to a disaster in real time: He sits on the road and cries as Kilgo-Washington faces him, holding his head in her arms. No charges were ever laid and Pearce left the force in disgust at the way the case was managed by senior police. Players preparing for North Coast Bulldogs season | NBN News Full list of Mr. Irrelevants in NFL draft history: Is Brock Purdy already the best final pick? Visit website. I'm sorry if I wasn't dressed appropriately, but I've never been to a Serbian event before. Everywhere we turned it was in your face, non-stop. The NRL's early plans to conquer America won't involve the competition's four Queensland-based teams. February 22:The same woman claimed she was sexually assaulted about 6.30am. . His blood-alcohol level was twice the legal limit at the time of the crash and Ruggs had a loaded firearm in his vehicle. She wanted to be a nurse, then changed her mind and focused on computers. She knew who she was and also wasn't afraid to be herself. Jerseys; Jackets; T-Shirts; Shorts & Pants; Sweaters; Youth . The comments below have been moderated in advance. I wish I could tell you that I was shocked by the group sex but I wasnt, Thurston wrote. Coffs Harbour Golf Driving Range. It relaxes him when he knows everything is OK. In 1997 a Bulldogs player apparently urinated on the leg of a make-up artist who was doing his face in preparation for a television advertisement. The police report said that a black Dior shoe was on the ground and a handgun was on the floorboard. In January 2005 Pearce filed a formal report asking for the woman who made the allegations to be charged with making a false statement. Leone said another man -- later determined to be a security guard at a nearby condo complex -- helped the driver to the side of the road. Each payment, once made, is non-refundable, subject to law. That's the thing -- why would you be two[-faced]?". February 24:Bulldogs players and official have a meeting to address the allegations. Komazec has come to the area late at night for more than half a year now, when a memorial was across the street, when someone wrote in chalk, "DEPORT THE RAIDERS.". Coffs Breakers U14 Youth Girls v Bellingen Bulldogs U14 Youth Girls 67. By PETER JESSUPJust a week before the rugby league season opens, the code is in the headlines for all the wrong reasons.At the centre of the storm across the Tasman are the Canterbury Bulldogs - for the second season in a row starting their season with a sex scandal.A woman's allegations of gang rape have prompted police and National Rugby League investigations that call into question the standards and morals of a code under siege.For the Bulldogs, it has probably ended their hopes on the football field - if anyone can remember football.Police are continuing to interview players and take DNA samples. "It's very difficult for them to read all of the things that are being said in the papers and not be in a position to respond," he said.Club chief executive Steve Mortimer admitted that "the last 10 days have been the worst experience with the game of rugby league. Did Pats make Mac Jones happy? It could take up to 5 business days before your first paper delivery arrives. March 9: Bulldogs CEO Steve Mortimer confirms sponsor Bing Lee has cancelled its agreement with the club, worth around $500,000. After they left Topgolf, Ruggs and his girlfriend went to a friend's house, according to the police report. "Consensual group sex, a girl sleeping with more than one NRL player at the same time, was not unusual. Email or phone: Password: Forgot account? He went to Topgolf, a popular entertainment venue that overlooks the Strip. Johnathan Thurston says Canterbury Bulldogs players could not defend Please call 1800 070 535. If convicted, the 23-year-old former Alabama standout faces a minimum of two years and a maximum of 50 years in prison, Wolfson told reporters in November. Pic John Grainger. "We want everyone who's involved with their organization, with the NFL and with the public in general, to understand that this is never an option. JOHNATHAN Thurston today becomes the first Bulldogs player to give his version of the Coffs Harbour scandal that engulfed the club 14-years ago revealing in an exclusive book extract what he says happened the night a woman claimed she was gang raped by six players. Ruggs still awaits a preliminary hearing -- now set for Feb. 1, 2023 -- to determine whether he will stand trial in state court. September 22, 2022. A short history of the lowest-scoring matches in rugby league history, 'I don't buy that one bit': Next AFL CEO denies claims of a boys' club after promotion from general counsel, NRL concedes error on crucial golden point call, Clare desperately wanted to stop drinking but she couldn't make it stick. She took him wherever he needed to go, and she was supposed to pick him up from work the morning she died. They had just come off a relatively uneventful bye week, but interim head coach Rich Bisaccia delivered a message as they entered an off day on Tuesday: Stay out of trouble. They play American football within their respective countries. Two men -- the security guard and a passerby -- had tried to save Tintor, according to statements made to police, but she was pinned inside. She wasnt impressed, he said. Later that day the Bulldogs players and staff held a meeting to address the allegations. Canterbury Bulldogs NRL players Mark O'Meley, Roy Asotasi, Brett Oliver and Jonathan Thurston leave Sydney Police Centre in Surry Hills after giving DNA evidence & video testimony in the gang rape scandal. New customers only. US tech billionaire's son Matt Baszucki found the low-carb/high Could a hormone spray reignite your love life? ', Pearce says: 'Had senior police disclosed the true status of the evidence at the time, the players would not have suffered the damage to their reputation.'. In an extensive interview with ESPN's College GameDay in 2019, Ruggs said he wouldn't be playing football if it weren't for Scott. I wasnt a part of that. 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Ryan says he and his teammates went through a shattering trial in the court of public opinion due to 'ridiculous' saturation coverage of the allegations, which were completely debunked by police and never resulted in any charges being laid. ', 'A lot of decent people, family people, lost their jobs,' Hazen El Masri (pictured with his wife Arwa) recalls of the events of 2004. The former Bulldog was sworn to secrecy when his teammates were accused of gang rape. One of the boys pushed her out and gave her a gob-full. They were slammed for being disrespectful and the images became synonymous with the case. I remember being in an airport with the team and everyone was looked at differently a look of, Hang on a sec, is that one of them, could that be one of the guilty guys?. The car began to slide, veering from the middle of the northbound lanes, south of Spring Valley Parkway, into the far right lane and hit Tintor's Toyota at 127 mph. 0. Club music thumped. Prior to his move to the Cowboys, Thurston had made his NRL debut in Canterbury colours halfway through the 2002 season, before helping the Bulldogs to the 2004 title. Coffs Harbour Breakers Juniors. Stallworth was placed under house arrest for two years but given provisions to allow him to resume his football career. February 23: According to former detective Glen Pearce, police hadn't identified a single witness whose evidence supported the allegations by this time. Stallworth, who was 28 at the time, was suspended without pay for the entire 2009 season by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell for violating the leagues personal conduct and substance abuse policy. Johnathan Thurston responds to Bulldogs 2004 scandal on 60 - Mamamia 'It was devastating for the players, the staff, everyone', The NRL has stood down star player Jack de Belin (pictured with girlfriend Alyce Taylor after a 2018 State of Origin match) from playing while he waits to answer a sexual assault charge. JOHNATHAN Thurston today becomes the first Bulldogs player to give his version of the Coffs Harbour scandal that engulfed the club 14-years ago revealing in an exclusive book extract what he says happened the night a woman claimed she was gang raped by six players. Around 7 a.m., Komazec's sister, Mirjana, knocked on the door of his house. The meeting with Gallop and the Bulldogs occurred a few days after news broke of a young woman reporting an alleged rape by up to six players in the pool area of the Coffs Harbour Resort during the 2004 pre-season, which concluded when investigators found insufficient evidence. They embraced again. In an emotional interview with Channel Nine's 60 Minutes, Thurston who went on to become one of the greatest NRL players of all time with the North Queensland Cowboys said he was denied a chance to defend himself. Doggy day-care! He said she had hopes of studying at UNLV. Her father, Nedeljko Tintor, struggled with language barriers and didn't have a driver's license.