South Sydney icon John Sattler says NRL officials must stand down Ben Te’o immediately for the good of the game.
Regarded as one of the toughest men to play rugby league, Sattler also believes Te’o should come forward and tell his side of the story.
Te’o was grilled for hours by the NRL’s integrity unit on Thursday over allegations by a Brisbane woman that he punched her in the face last month, fracturing her eye socket.
The woman has indicated she would go to police next week and press charges.
The NRL’s integrity unit was expected to continue its probe by interviewing Brisbane Broncos fullback Corey Norman and Newcastle’s Darius Boyd, who were allegedly in the Brisbane house on the day of the alleged assault.
Sattler – a Rabbitohs legend who played with a broken jaw in the club’s 1970 grand final – said the NRL had no choice but to stand Te’o down until their investigations had been completed.
“I’m against anybody laying a hand on women,” said Sattler.
“I’m against that no matter what.
“If, after investigating both sides of the story they find he is in the wrong, they should hit him (Te’o) with the biggest thing they can hit him with.
“If it were up to me, I would stand him down for the good of the game.”
Petero Civoniceva, one of the code’s elder statesmen, told AAP it was time for rugby league to stamp its foot down and enforce a zero tolerance to violence against women.
“It’s a difficult situation for the game to be in, especially if there’s a police investigation to come out of it,” the former Queensland and Australian representative said.
“We’ve just come out of the Women in League round and any issue like this we have to be very strict in the way we deal with it.”
The big-hearted prop said the investigation had to get to the bottom of the allegations.
“We have supporters of both sexes, young and old, and we owe it to them to make sure the investigation is done properly and thoroughly and we make the right decisions.”
Te’o’s Rabbitohs teammates said the off-field drama hadn’t impacted their preparations for Monday’s clash with Cronulla, but were keen to see the issue resolved quickly.
“As a team, we’re just trying to stay focused on what’s ahead of us and prepare for the game,” Rabbitohs enforcer Sam Burgess said.
“Ben’s going through the processes he needs to with the club and the NRL and hopefully it will be resolved pretty soon.”
Five-eighth John Sutton echoed his teammates’ sentiments.
“He’s going through a bit of a difficult time at the moment and hopefully him and the club can get all that stuff sorted and we can just get on with playing footy,” Sutton said.
NRL chief executive Dave Smith said the investigation was being carried out in a timely manner.
“I know it’s going quickly and thoroughly, I know there’s still some work to do,” Smith told reporters, adding that he doesn’t expect the probe to last weeks.
“I’m getting daily reports so I’m confident of the way that it’s tracking, but at the end of the day we’re getting to the bottom of it and we’re getting the facts.”
Smith believes Souths properly assessed the issue when it was first raised.
Josh
Guest
Agreed if they are flu d to be in the wrong they must be banned forever. However they called the policy, they informed their clubs, they have always and still deny any wrongdoing, all we have is one persons word against 3 others at this stage. That can't be enou to stand them down Neil an investigation is completed because what's to stop someone else making a claim to rub a player out of a game if we stand them down on an accusation
Josh
Guest
Their is no proof she had the broken eye socket when she left the house at this stage
Josh
Guest
So what your saying is that everyone within injury ever was caused by a footballer illegally bashing them if they say so. Well next time my teams in the grand final I'm willing to get a mate to smack me around , blame the star player for the opposition and then make them stand down till after the grand final.
marco
Guest
it does appear that south's tried a cover up. Disappointing that my team is involved in this.whatever went on in that house on that night must be properly investigated. If someone has done wrong they should be kicked out of the game.
Renegade
Guest
Richardson was at Penrith....he has never had anything to do with the Broncos.
Dave
Guest
I know what you mean but she also has a FRACTURED EYE SOCKET to go with her story.
Dingo
Guest
Queensland is a team of grubs,no surprises Norman,Boyd n Teo were all present
Dave
Guest
Hey oikee. Where did Teo, Boyd, Norman and Shane Richardson all come from? Where did they learn their trade and culture? What club was Richardson behind the wheel at when Thaiday, Hunt and Kemp had charges covered up? Can anyone else see a connection between these seven individuals?
Boatman of River Styx
Guest
Channel 9 has confirmed that she wasn't paid. That was a furphy put out there to discredit her. "Civil action against women who complain"? More likely that the woman with the broken eye socket will take civil action. You're getting your victims mixed-up.
Boatman of River Styx
Guest
Maybe she didn't trust the policemen who attended. Andrew Webster reported today that the attending police stood around talking to the footballers about Origin before putting the victim in a taxi for home. She had a broken eye socket and the police didn't bother taking her to hospital. When the Stewart incident happened, the girl became the target with leaks to the media by the police about her father's history. Making allegations against famous sportsmen is dangerous stuff.
Boatman of River Styx
Guest
Doesn't the alleged victim get the presumption of innocence, too? Much easier to applaud and protect the sporting hero and damn the victim. If there was nothing it it, why hide the fact that it happened?
Bunny Boy Marty
Guest
-- Comment from The Roar's iPhone app.
Bunny Boy Marty
Guest
Oikee, I am not one for trial by media, look what happened to Brett Stewart. Why did she bypass the police and go to the media? -- Comment from The Roar's iPhone app.
Bigjohn
Guest
If the woman is so keen to go public with her allegations, then why did she withdraw the statement she made to Police. Its about time that players, and anyone else for that matter, took civil action against women who complain, but will not back those claims up by going to Court. Are they just after the TV money or a quiet payout from the NRL or the clubs.
Silver_Sovereign
Guest
Good to see the innocent until proven guilty notion is in full swing. Reminds me of teachers who get falsely accused of sexual assault of students. They may be proved innocent in court, but their lives are ruined in the public domain
Matt_S
Guest
Goodness sakes I hate how the media have become judge, jury & executioner and a gullible public fall for it every time. If channel nine cared anything for the girl in question they would have encouraged her to go to the police first and not predjudice a potential case. But no, they went for sensationalism and the reputations that would be destroyed- both the girl's & Teo, his club etc.
Boatman of River Styx
Guest
Rabbitohgate? If there was nothing to hide, the incident would have been reported to the NRL as soon as it happened. The girl has a broken eye socket, so something obviously occurred. Souths should be stood down from the competition for bringing the game into disgrace. Cover-ups are always worse than the actual offence.
oikee
Guest
You have to stand him down because Sotuhs tried to hide the whole issue. On that fact alone he should be stood down. This code shoots itself in both feet again.
Terry
Guest
So stand a player down on accusation, without evidence and after not only not being charged but also being cleared by police on the night at the place of the 'assault'? Good way to win a Grand Final if your a massive gambler or rabid fan! Fake an assualt against your oppositions top player, go to the police and media and get the guy taken out of the game on accustation because it would look bad for the game! Genius tactic.
bjt
John Sattler. Judge, Jury and Executioner.