In his memoir, Thurston says he wasnt shocked by the group sex at the time, but now he sees things differently. She said she was vaginally, orally and anally raped by six Bulldogs players in the pool area of the Pacific Bay Resort. 'There were cameras everywhere you went. Ruggs was supposed to drive, but he caught the flu, so Scott rode with four other teenagers, including his longtime friend Darian Adams. My wife was pregnant at the time, and some of the questions she was asked about it, it was a very stressful time. JOHNATHAN Thurston today becomes the first Bulldogs player to give his version of the Coffs Harbour scandal that engulfed the club 14-years ago revealing in an exclusive book extract what he says happened the night a woman claimed she was gang raped by six players. -. Scott had a vision that his friend would be a five-star athlete, and that he'd play football at Alabama. March 3: Bulldogs players arrive for police interviews dressed casually only captain Steve Price, Braith Anasta and Hazem El Masri were 'dressed appropriately'. RICHARD LITTLEJOHN: What do we want? He can't shake the memories. He couldn't tell whether it was a car or an SUV; its features had melted into anonymity. An unnamed 20-year-old slept with six of them back at the teams hotel before being spotted by Bulldogs the following night at the Plantation Hotel. "That's the advice that we had been given [to keep quiet]. By midday news had broken of the accusation made against between three and six players in the early hours of the morning. Stallworth, who was 28 at the time, was suspended without pay for the entire 2009 season by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell for violating the leagues personal conduct and substance abuse policy. I was not involved in any capacity with the woman who made the accusations. Walker has pleaded not guilty and his partner has retracted initial statements made to police. To upgrade, call 1300 MY NEWS (696 397), As a Full Digital Access or Paper Delivery + Full Digital Access Member youll get unlimited digital access to every story online, insight and analysis from our expert journalists PLUS enjoy freebies, discounts and benefits with our +Rewards loyalty program. Over the winter, he had commissioned an artist to paint a mural near the corner of Spring Valley and Rainbow, just a few feet from where Tintor died. JOHNATHAN Thurston today becomes the first Bulldogs player to give his version of the Coffs Harbour scandal that engulfed the club 14-years ago revealing in an exclusive book extract what he says happened the night a woman claimed she was gang raped by six players. Catch up with The Loop, 'Until we meet in heaven': Maryborough community comes to grips with triple fatality as loved ones remembered, Perfect storm brewing for housing market and it could make buying your own home a pipedream, Celebrities arrive at the Met Gala for fashion's biggest night, Clare desperately wanted to stop drinking but she couldn't make it stick. No charges were ever laid and all players cleared of any wrongdoing. By the time Komazec neared South Rainbow Boulevard that morning, fire had consumed whatever was in the street. (Police did not conduct a field sobriety test at the site of the crash.) He asked where Scott was, but nobody at the scene, or the hospital, would tell him. Like, was it a good thing for me that I wasn't there or was it just meant to be that way? 'A lot of decent people, family people, lost their jobs,' El Masri recalls. Adams said the driver was speeding and distracted on her phone. "I wish we could have come out and cleared our names straight away, because everything was consensual at the time. Bulldogs in the Bluegrass brings Yalies together for life long friendships, connects students to the local Yale community and provides community networking with all the best that Louisville has to offer. See www.couriermail.com.au/subscriptionterms for full details. They'd commiserate over mean customers and teenage angst. ON MARCH 16, the Clark County court granted Ruggs permission to leave home confinement twice a week to work out for three hours a day at a training center in the Las Vegas Valley near Red Rock Canyon. "I wish I could tell you that I was shocked by the group sex - but I wasn't," Thurston wrote. The comments below have been moderated in advance. Very large text size ONE of the most senior police officers involved in the investigation of the Bulldogs gang rape allegations in Coffs Harbour has publicly supported the footballers and said: "There was no woman raped." "I've never been involved in, or am I aware of, another criminal case involving somebody traveling 156 miles an hour.". In 2014, he spoke at the NFLs rookie symposium, sharing his story and pleading with young athletes to not make the same mistakes he made. 'It was devastating for the players, the staff, everyone. All rights reserved. I didn't know what to do. No cancellations during the first 12 months. Clark County District Attorney Eric Bauman revealed Wednesday that Ruggs was driving 156 miles per hour when his Chevrolet Corvette crashed into the back of a Toyota RAV4. Royal superfans camping on The Mall ahead of King's Coronation, Student kicked out of school for 'there are only two genders' t-shirt, Russian freight train derails and bursts into flames after explosion, 'We're not your enemies!' Under the code, players are not supposed to bring outsiders back to the team hotel. As a person who wasnt even in the room his side of the story doesnt seem very relevant. "And then I remembered when I lost loved ones, the most important thing to me was the people who just showed up. Panther axed from trial over sex tape scandal, Napa escapes ban, clubs fined over $1.5m as NRL vows never again, Manly Sea Eagles star Dylan Walker stood down for three months, NRL hand down tough sanctions to Napa and Bolton. The Bulldogs are currently second on the NRL ladder after a 38-12 win over the Dragons on Saturday. Media outlets seized on it as the team trying to get their stories straight before they were interviewed by police. Johnathan Thurston has decried an inability to defend himself and his teammates under team orders during the 2004 gang rape scandal that rocked the Canterbury Bulldogs. The matter returns to court in April. The woman alleged she was sexually assaulted by six Bulldogs on February 22 at the Pacific Bay Resort in Coffs Harbour, northern New South Wales. They were slammed for being disrespectful and the images became synonymous with the case. "We want everyone who's involved with their organization, with the NFL and with the public in general, to understand that this is never an option. Tintor loved cooking and dyeing her hair and doting over her dogs and cats. In the February of that year, a 20-year-old woman filed a complaint with Coffs Harbour police alleging shed been gang raped by a number of the Bulldogs players at a resort after a pre-season trial. Thurston is now married to Samantha Lynch, and the pair have three girls, 18-month-old Lillie, three-year-old Charlie and five-year-old Frankie. Her father, Nedeljko Tintor, struggled with language barriers and didn't have a driver's license. When do we want it? Warriors captain Steve Price will draw on his experience in dealing with the Bulldogs' Coffs Harbour scandal to offer advice to teammate Michael Crockett, who is facing sexual assault charges. News College Commitments Bulldogs News Media Release. Coffs Harbour Breakers Juniors. ESPN requested a copy of the defense's motion, but the court sealed the document outlining his medical needs. There was little hesitation when deciding what to call him. She had had consecutive consensual sex with eight players on the Wednesday before, the meeting heard.Whatever was said, it obviously emboldened some, who clearly showed they thought no charges would be brought.Afterwards, coach Steve Folkes spoke about the allegation for the first time. She wanted to be a nurse, then changed her mind and focused on computers. This service may include material from Agence France-Presse (AFP), APTN, Reuters, AAP, CNN and the BBC World Service which is copyright and cannot be reproduced. I wish we could have come out and cleared our names straight away because everythi. It is incumbent on all sporting clubs of any code to educate young players that ignoring community standards degrades the brotherly bond sports teams espouse.El Masri and others not involved have a right to feel aggrieved at being let down. Tintor fought to get into the world. You don't even have feelings.". Ive never understood the appeal of a gang bang. Ryan was the Bulldogs' captain when they won the 2004 grand final at the end of an incredibly damaging year for the club that saw a 20-year-old woman accuse players of gang-raping her after a pre-season trial. Smoke and heat from the fire caused both men to back away. My wife was pregnant at the time, and some of the questions she was asked about it, it was a very stressful time. Each player involved has received a letter explaining the inappropriate conduct charges, and asking them to outline why they should not be reprimanded, fined, suspended or sacked. You walk past people and you wonder what they think. February 2, 2023. Leone went to his backyard, where he could see the street. "He was always the one that was giving me confidence and just boosting my head up," Ruggs said in the GameDay interview. Former Bulldogs captain Andrew Ryan with wife Olivia. He would tally up 29 NRL games across three seasons with the Bulldogs. If you smiled, if you didnt smile, everything was scrutinised. Messages to Topgolf and the company's national office were not returned. ', Hazem El Masri (pictured with his family) was engulfed in the 2004 Coffs Harbour sex scandal and went on that year to break the NRL's point scoring record with 139 goals and 16 tries. New customers only. Manlys Dylan Walker has also been stood down while he faces a domestic violence charge against his partner who has since retracted her initial statements made to police. Under Nevada law, Ruggs would not be eligible for probation if he's convicted, and faces between two and 20 years in prison. Thurston revealed the woman followed them back to the hotel and began screaming and knocking on the room adjacent where some of his teammates were staying. On the Saturday night, according to Thurston, the 20-year-old woman wanted to meet up with the players again but they werent interested. She tried to enter their cab as they were leaving the Plantation Hotel to go back to the Novotel Hotel where they were staying. He compiled 266 total tackles, 87.5 sacks and 33 forced fumbles over the course of his career. Komazec plans to be in the courtroom for every hearing. The football coaches at Robert E. Lee also kept pursuing Ruggs, and junior year, he finally relented. But, don't take our word for it. Two men -- the security guard and a passerby -- had tried to save Tintor, according to statements made to police, but she was pinned inside. It was said to be an initiation rite for new first-graders.Others tried to break into the hotel room of another television worker at 3am after a drinking session.Last year, at the same Coffs Harbour hotel, a 42-year-old woman went with one player to his room and had sex, then woke to find another had initiated sex with her and a third was lining up.Club and police investigations were conducted but no charges laid, the Bulldogs fining the three players involved for breach of the club code.On February 22, Bulldogs players danced on nightclub tables, groped women on the dance floor and sparked a brawl as a result. She just wanted the day to be about Tintor and Max. We will continue to gather facts and monitor the matter under our policies, but our thoughts at this time are with those impacted by this devastating incident.. Some have never had another job. By Shayne Bugden For Daily Mail Australia, Published: 15:39 BST, 2 March 2019 | Updated: 20:56 BST, 2 March 2019. Home delivery is not available in all areas and is not the regional edition. Joe Sullivan, a manager of victim services for Mothers Against Drunk Driving, has sat in a courtroom with Tintor's family during hearings over the past several months and has told them that the justice system can move slowly. Britain's rock solid support for the Royal Family: With Charles' Coronation just four days way, a major poll LORD ASHCROFT: The monarchy has to change, but the King has time and goodwill on his side. Two vastly experienced private investigators who were former detective sergeants - one acting for the Bulldogs and one for the NRL - both reached the same conclusion that the woman was not telling the truth within a similar time frame. Around 7 a.m., Komazec's sister, Mirjana, knocked on the door of his house. The beauty of having a digital subscription or membership is that it travels with you. Later that day the Bulldogs players and staff held a meeting to address the allegations. "Speaking about it is quite difficult knowing that my daughters will probably see this when they're older and having to sit down and explain to them what is my side of this story is going to be tough.". A man on the sidewalk -- who appears dressed in the same clothing as their friend in the Facebook video from Topgolf -- points out to an officer that the person sitting on the ground is Ruggs, who plays for the Raiders, and that he needs help "ASAP.". "I was not involved in any capacity with the woman who made the accusations. We are no longer accepting comments on this article. NRL great Johnathan Thurston has opened up on the Canterbury Bulldogs rape scandal which saw his young rugby league career briefly descend into chaos. The next time he woke up, Adams was lying in the middle of the road. Authorities say Ruggs tore through Las Vegas' valley west of the Strip at 156 mph in his Corvette Stingray. The former Bulldogs players comments come after the NRL announced on Friday a new no-fault stand down policy for players facing serious criminal charges. 'Everywhere we turned it was in your face, non-stop,' he says of the Coffs Harbour pack rape scandal of 2004. TINTOR WAS, BY 20-something standards, a homebody. That morning, the woman allegedly had consensual sex with one of the players near the hotels pool. Thurston retired from rugby league at the end of the 2018 season after a glittering career at NRL and representative level, scooping two NRL titles, a World Cup triumph and four Dally M Medals in his time with both the Cowboys and Bulldogs. AEST = Australian Eastern Standard Time which is 10 hours ahead of GMT (Greenwich Mean Time), abc.net.au/news/bulldogs-players-handed-breach-notices-as-thurston/1977168, Get breaking news alerts directly to your phone with our app, Help keep family & friends informed by sharing this article, This man advises his clients that elections, rates and mortgages are invalid, Recreational vaping to be banned, all e-cigarettes to be strictly controlled, Qantas names new boss ahead of Alan Joyce's retirement, RBA tipped for rates hold, Treasurer refuses to confirm reported JobSeeker lift for people over 55, but says targeted support in the budget, Selling the furniture and couch surfing: Families forced to make 'impossible' decisions amid fears inflation crisis hitting kids, US updates Russian death toll in Ukraine, Twitter glitch logs users out. The pioneering heart operation that only takes an hour and doesn't leave a scar is performed on first Briton, Martin Lewis reveals how to get a cheaper supermarket shop and FREE food. The opportunity to boost their skills comes ahead of the representative season. It could take up to 5 business days before your first paper delivery arrives. To everyone involved in community football in 2021 - thank you! 'Everywhere we turned it was in your face, non-stop. Prices after the first 12 months may be varied as per full Terms and Conditions. 'It was devastating for the players, the staff, everyone', The NRL has stood down star player Jack de Belin (pictured with girlfriend Alyce Taylor after a 2018 State of Origin match) from playing while he waits to answer a sexual assault charge. The scandal saw Bulldogs players accused of sexual assault after a night out in Coffs Harbour in 2004. Calling me a rapist just makes me want to snap and kill the bloke. Not in conjunction with any other offer. A representative from the NFLPA told ESPN the use of ride-sharing apps is promoted in annual team meetings. Two former Canterbury Bulldogs stars have opened up on the infamous gang rape scandal that engulfed the club in 2004 and the devastating toll it took on them and their families. She told Pinzon that she hoped this never happens to anyone else. Under the new rules, players facing charges which carry a maximum jail term of 11 years or more would be stood down under a no-fault policy which Beattie stressed didnt apply a presumption of guilt. March 9: Bulldogs CEO Steve Mortimer confirms sponsor Bing Lee has cancelled its agreement with the club, worth around $500,000. Similarly, the code on Thursday stood down Dylan Walker over domestic violence charges as part of a controversial new crackdown on off-field behaviour. Johnathan Thurston and Bulldogs teammates were accused of sexual assault after a night out in Coffs Harbour in 2004 Police found insufficient evidence against players and no charges were laid, but players were told to stay quiet by the club Thurston says he was not part of the group but everything was consensual Ruggs had barely picked up a football in his first two years of high school, but Scott kept urging him to play. The story of the Cowboys scout and prospect son Dallas just drafted, Legacy pick: Cardinals take great-great-nephew of team's first-ever draft pick, Justice of the Peace Ann Zimmerman denied the request. 'It probably impacted the players' families more,' he said. The new policy meant that St George Illawarras Jack de Belin has been stood down indefinitely while he faces a charge of aggravated sexual assault. ', St George lock Jack de Belin leaves Wollongong Local Court after appearing on a sexual assault charge. Copyright 2023 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. Adams went on to play college basketball at Troy, then transferred to Jacksonville State in 2020. 32 lingering post-draft questions: Will Lions have regrets? I will be something great.'". Tintor's mom recently adopted another golden retriever, he said. This automatically renews to be charged as $24 (min. The woman allegedly wanted to meet up with some of the Bulldogs players again. Ryan says the meeting was nothing of the sort and Pearce insists the players never gave the impression of colluding with each other. Better late than never! ONE of the most senior police officers involved in the investigation of the Bulldogs gang rape allegations in Coffs Harbour has publicly supported the footballers and said: "There was no woman raped." He attempted to take the IVs out of his arm and the monitor from his finger. Johnathan Thurston remained quiet for 14 years. Despite maintaining his innocence, NRL has controversially stood down de Belin from playing while he waits the outcome of aggravated sexual assault charges after a night out in Wollongong in December. It was Mirjana. He said he reached out to Ruggs but Ruggs never responded. Angela Pinzon, a mother of two, works at the Petco next to the park where Tintor walked her dog that last night. On April 27 the police announced no charges would be laid due to lack of evidence, but the mud continued to stick to the players, even when Pearce went public about how poorly the investigation was handled. The Director of Public Prosecutions ruled there was insufficient evidence to launch a prosecution. Thurston condemned the group sex sessions calling it 'distasteful and disrespectful' (AAP). 'I've got four young kids and what they'll find if they Google my name, yeah, it's a factor it's a worry. The former Bulldog was sworn to secrecy when his teammates were accused of gang rape. "We're never going to get her back," he said, "but at least he can get what he deserves to get.". But if your subscription or membership includes home delivery, then you can request to suspend your paper delivery through My Account. She knew how to say something honest without hurting anyone.". He figured it was a way to honor Rod Scott, by wearing the uniform he couldn't. Thurston, who was not involved with the accuser, shed light on the situation which . Annual Waking Up in Vegas Specialty Show Information. She should never have been treated that way.". He'd seen how fast Ruggs could run, and how high he could jump. Titans quarterback Will Levis opens up about emotional draft day.
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