Roosters deny Sa slap - Sports News - Fanatics - the world's biggest events

Roosters deny Sa slap

By Steve Jancetic and Chi Tranter 01/09/2009 06:44:46 PM Comments (0)

The Sydney Roosters have rejected reports claiming suspended centre Setaimata Sa slapped his girlfriend during the alleged rampage which led to his arrest on Sunday night.

The Roosters released a statement on the NRL club's website denying aspects of a Fairfax newspaper report, which alleged Sa hit Claire Sweeney twice after he was denied access to the Coogee Bay Hotel.

Sa was arrested and will face four charges - including assault, malicious damage, failure to leave a licensed premises and resisting arrest - when he fronts Waverley Local Court on September 23.

He has been stood down by the club and is in danger of having his contract torn up when he fronts the Roosters board, but the club denied he had hit Sweeney during the incident.

"From the facts listed in the police report and from the mouth of Claire Sweeney herself, Setaimata Sa did not slap Claire in the face during the incident outside the Coogee Bay Hotel," the statement read.

"Claire vehemently denies that Sa ever has or ever would hit her, and the police report does not indicate that they witnessed or that anyone else witnessed Sa slapping Claire."

NRL chief executive David Gallop said he was satisfied with the steps taken by the Roosters so far, but admitted his disappointment with having the game dragged through the mud yet again.

"I think they (the Roosters) are certainly working on providing us with as much detail as they can," Gallop said.

"It is too early to suggest action, clearly there is a court process that has to be gone through as well."

Gallop also backed steps being taken by the Roosters to improve their record of off-field troubles, with no less than eight incidents so far this season.

"We had some things to say about the number of issues that they'd had a few weeks ago and clearly they have identified that as an area that they want to work on themselves," Gallop said.

"I don't think we need to get involved again."

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