Tigers go to ground over rape claims - Sports News - Fanatics - the world's biggest events

Tigers go to ground over rape claims

By Todd Balym and Katherine Danks 07/09/2006 07:16:05 PM Comments (0)

Wests Tigers chief executive Steve Noyce says it is too early to say if players will make themselves available for forensic testing over allegations a young woman may have been raped at a player's apartment.

A 26-year-old woman has told police she may have been drugged and raped at the Five Dock apartment of Tigers player Ryan O'Hara on Monday morning, although the player has not been implicated in the case.

Police have taken bed linen for forensic testing and told Noyce they would contact him "in the next couple of days."

Asked if the Tigers players partying at O'Hara's unit early on Monday morning would volunteer themselves for forensic testing to prove their innocence, Noyce said it was too early to make that decision.

"You're on about stage five of the process and we are all on stage one," said Noyce.

"With respect you're just getting ahead of where we are at the moment."

The police would not comment on the case, however an unnamed witness told Network Seven he complained to police about the noise being caused in the William Street apartment but wasn't aware if any action was taken by authorities.

"It woke everyone up between the hours of three and five in the morning with screaming and yelling and a person sounded in distress," he said.

"To the best of my knowledge they (police) did not turn up and from there things escalated.

"The young woman, possibly mid 20s was quite distressed. The person involved did not look too happy either."

Noyce spoke to the players who were partying at the unit at the time, but none had sought specific advice at this stage.

He advised the players to refrain from talking to the media.

"Short cutting it is not going to help anyone," he said.

"The players are aware that as CEO of the club it is my responsibility to talk to the media and I have made myself available to anyone and will continue to do so.

"(I have had) general discussions with the players in terms of communicating with the guys exactly what's happening with a police investigation underway.

"We need to respect that process, but obviously they're aware that I'm attempting to be as open and honest as I can be.

"As things happen if they need someone to talk to about any issues I am available to them."

Sydney Promotional Dancers coordinator Lisa Ince, who oversees three NRL cheer squads, confirmed the woman was not a cheerleader.

"The girl allegedly involved in the incident is not a Wests Tigers cheerleader," she said, declining to comment further.

When asked if the woman belonged to another cheer squad, she replied: "She is not part of any NRL squad".

Cheerleaders are not allowed to fraternise with players and have been sacked in the past for doing so.

Meanwhile South Sydney chief executive Shane Richardson confronted rumours Rabbitohs may have been involved or present on Monday by asking his players upfront.

"I am not aware of any South Sydney players being there, no person has rung me, no policeman no anything whatsoever," Richardson said.

"There's not even a hint (our players were involved). I've obviously rung up a few players and they've said `no Richo'.

"I spoke to a couple of the players and they know nothing to the contrary at all.

"I only did that because I thought I had better check and make sure.

"But I've nothing to gauge that on at all."

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