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South Sydney forward George Burgess has been stood down by his ladder-leading NRL club after being charged with two counts of wilful damage following an incident in Cairns early on Monday.
South Sydney said in a statement on Tuesday that English star Burgess had admitted guilt and was cooperating with police over the incident.
UPDATE: Burgess has been fined $10,000 by his club, and has been suspended for two games.
The club stood Burgess down pending further investigation and was working with the NRL’s Integrity Unit to decide what penalty it should impose on him.
The incident happened hours after South Sydney’s match against Gold Coast in Cairns on Sunday.
Queensland police said they charged a 21-year-old NSW man with ramming a sign through the window of a car.
Police alleged the man used a sign he found in the street to smash the rear window, damaging a vehicle at Redlynch, in Cairns, about 2.45am (AEST) on Monday.
Burgess is to front Cairns Magistrates Court on July 10.
He made a short statement on Tuesday morning:
“I would like to apologise unreservedly to the Rabbitohs Members, sponsors and everyone in the community.
“I have let my team and my family down. I acknowledge I am a role model for kids and I will do everything I can to restore my reputation. It’s my responsibility to ensure this type of behaviour doesn’t happen again. I’ll learn from my mistake.”
The latest incident comes after NSW State of Origin winger Blake Ferguson was on Monday charged with indecent assault following an incident with a female patron at a bar in Cronulla on Sunday night.
Ferguson has been granted conditional bail to appear in Waverley Local Court on July 16.
The 23-year-old has also been stood down from next Wednesday’s second Origin clash with Queensland while the NRL has suspended the utility back’s registration.
Ferguson was out celebrating with former Raiders team-mate Josh Dugan’s recall to the NSW side.
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