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Nervous wait for Queensland's Ben Te'o

29th May, 2013
9

A nervous wait looms for Ben Te’o after a renewed Queensland police assault investigation looked set to fast-track an NRL probe into the back-rower ahead of the State of Origin opener.

Te’o was shielded from reporters at Queensland’s official media day on the Sunshine Coast on Wednesday due to an ongoing NRL integrity panel inquiry into assault claims by a Brisbane woman.

But the spotlight remains on the South Sydney forward after Queensland police on Wednesday reopened their investigation into allegations that the 22-year-old woman was punched in the face by Te’o in a Brisbane home last month.

Katie Lewis made an initial complaint to police in April, claiming Te’o had hit her, breaking her eye socket.

She later withdrew the allegations.

Upon renewing her complaint at the Brisbane station on Wednesday, she was arrested on an outstanding traffic warrant and later taken to Brisbane Magistrates Court where she pleaded guilty to charges of drink driving and driving while disqualified.

She was disqualified from driving for more than three years and fined a total of $1800.

The NRL integrity panel is yet to speak to Lewis but is tipped to accelerate its investigation following the renewed complaint and may yet decide Te’o’s immediate football fate this week.

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Still, it looked like business as usual for Te’o who trained with the Queensland team on Wednesday at their Coolum camp in preparation for next week’s Origin opener.

Maroons coach Mal Meninga said he would abide by any sanction on Te’o with Canberra enforcer Josh Papalii on standby in an extended Queensland squad.

Queensland captain Cameron Smith said Te’o would receive support from teammates ahead of Origin I.

“We’ve discussed his situation at the moment. The NRL investigation is out of our control and Ben’s,” Smith said on Wednesday.

“While that is still continuing his focus has to be on preparing for next week.
“Hopefully the outcome will be finalised soon and we can get on with next week.

“But he’s got the support of everyone in camp.”

Maroons officials showed that support by ushering Te’o and Darius Boyd away from media on Wednesday.

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Media were told Te’o would not be available for interviews during the NRL integrity panel investigation.

And officials insisted Boyd could not remain at the media session following the team photograph due to ongoing treatment for his injured ankle.

The Newcastle winger has been given until Friday to prove his fitness.

However, Boyd was also expected to be interviewed by the NRL over the alleged assault.

Boyd and Brisbane Broncos fullback Corey Norman were allegedly in the Brisbane house on the day the woman claimed she had been assaulted, April 21.

Te’o and Boyd posed for the official squad photograph before being whisked away.

“I think they’ve had enough media scrutiny to last them a lifetime, particularly one of them,” Queensland coach Mal Meninga said.

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“We will wait and see what happens when we get all the facts and we will act accordingly.”

Meanwhile, Smith rated Boyd only a “50-50” chance of playing Origin I.

“He’s walking around but he is nowhere near where he needs to play,” he said.

Melbourne flyer Justin O’Neill is on standby.

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