The investigation into allegations of misconduct by South Sydney players in an online video call has been concluded.
Sam Burgess was the only player named in a Daily Telegraph report and said he was looking forward to the truth coming out. The club has since responded with the findings.
Full South Sydney Statement:
The Panel appointed by the South Sydney Rabbitohs has completed its investigation into a complaint made regarding inappropriate conduct by a Rabbitohs player in May of this year.
This investigation arose from reports in the Daily Telegraph on 14 and 15 September 2018, and emails sent by an anonymous complainant in May, June and August 2018 which alleged inappropriate conduct by a South Sydney player on a Facebook Messenger video call.
After being informed of the matter, the Club committed to investigate the complaint in consultation and co-operation with the NRL Integrity Unit. It appointed a panel consisting of Commissioner Lea Drake (Independent), Karyn Murphy (NRL Integrity Unit), Nick Pappas (Rabbitohs Chairman), Emily Grant (Rabbitohs Head of Operations, People and Culture) and Blake Solly (Rabbitohs Chief Executive Officer) to investigate and report upon the complaint.
Representatives of the Panel interviewed South Sydney players and staff. The Complainant was interviewed privately by Ms Murphy. The Complainant declined to be interviewed by the Panel, and did not want her identity disclosed, which the Club has respected. The Panel has also reviewed all available documentary material.
Based on a thorough review of the available evidence before it, the Panel was not satisfied that any South Sydney player engaged in any actionable misconduct resulting in a breach of their NRL Playing Contract, the NRL Rules or the SSFC Code of Conduct.
The Rabbitohs have no further comment to make at this time.
Adam Elliott
Roar Rookie
Its the Newspapers fault Rugby League has a bad name haha. Thats what is more hilarious Justin!
Justin Kearney
Roar Rookie
Lol ‘Adam Elliott’!
Adam Elliott
Roar Rookie
How dare they expose these Grubs! The NRL is supposed to be a professional competition. Sponsors dont want their brand tarnished by these brainless idiots. Its what these Whinging Rugby League fans whinge about and dont realise. Mungoball fans nees to wake up and realise this is why your sport goes round and round in circles and cant grow. Stop blaming the media and realise its the nobody grubs that play the sport that brings the game down week after week
Justin Kearney
Roar Rookie
I hope South Sydney and Sam sue the pants off these leaches contaminating our game.
RJB
Guest
Given two of the panel were independent, including a member of the NRL integrity unit that assertion doesn't really stack up. It should be noted that the only person the complainant spoke to was Karyn Murphy (NRL Integrity Unit) so it would seem she was satisfied it was the case. As others have mentioned, the original e mail was anonymous, and I believe the contact phone number she gave was from Japan, and apparently disconnected or not answering. The subsequent emails were flagged, not surprisingly, as spam. When Souths were made aware of them they retrieved them. When attempts were made to contact her she rebuffed them. I'm not really sure what else they could have done to act on an anonymous complaint from someone who appears to have studiously avoided making themselves available for contact, and did not bring the matter to the attention of the NRL or as should have happened if they allegations had substance, to the police. Instead she elected to go to the media, and subsequently went to ground.
Christov
Guest
Souths: head down to the Winchester, have a pint, and wait for this whole thing to blow over. Go Rabbits this weekend!
The Sceptic
Guest
NRL yet again shows it is pathetic. Did Sicko Sam apologise in a recent press conference for his actions. Just proves what R Stuart stated that certain clubs are treated differently. Jack Wighton Suspended for extra weeks by NRL, Mitchell Pearce Suspended, Todd Carney banned for life (unofficially of course) Andrew Fifita and Josh Dugan no action by NRL Bulldogs players no action by NRL yet have not Souths players at least bought the game into massive disrepute yet still no action. Just proves how poorly the game is run and shows it is full of talking heads such as Peter Beattie (watch his last appearance on NRL 360) and pathetic administration led by Todd Greenberg. NRL continually state that they can overrule any club if they think action is required yet why become part of a club investigation when the integrity unit should be fully independent. Take a lesson from the NFL on how to run a professional sports organisation and keep players and clubs inline.
Pedro
Guest
Like it a dog investigating its own genitals. Invariably pleased with what they find
DP Schaefer
Roar Rookie
Brendon, I may stand corrected, but it was my understanding that the club did respond at the time, however due to some issues responses ended up in their spam filter/junk mail and were missed. The bigger question for me is why, after all these months, did it suddenly surface on the eve of semis...
jimmmy
Roar Rookie
Welcome to to Roar Rugby League. Thought you’d drop in.
john
Guest
The whole saga just reeks, the sender of the emails to Souths at the time was "Anon Ymous" or something to that effect. Most email spam filters would have trashed that email based on the sender alone. If someone wanted to purposefully plant a complaint that would never really get the attention it deserved, that would be best way to go about, doesn't matter how many follow-up emails you file afterwards those will just be sent to spam. I'm not Souths fan, but this just looks like set up from the first email. I'm sure the NRL/Souths would have paid some shush money to the complainant which was the intent of the complaint all along, having it exposed at this time just increased the value.
Brendon
Roar Rookie
So did the club commit to investigate the matter after May, June, August or September? I think the clubs handling of the issue itself is pretty poor form. They even acknowledge they were informed 5 months earlier, and did nothing. Thats got to raise flags with someone surely? In terms of no players being suspended, I'm curious if this had been investigated in May, would the outcome be the same. But alas, we will never know.
Christo the Daddyo
Roar Rookie
"The Complainant declined to be interviewed by the Panel" "Based on a thorough review of the available evidence before it, the Panel was not satisfied that any South Sydney player engaged in any actionable misconduct resulting in a breach of their NRL Playing Contract, the NRL Rules or the SSFC Code of Conduct." Hmmm...