Trouble at Manly

[Cowboy Titan]

http://www.leaguehq.com.au/news/news...842667742.html

Manly star accused of slapping sponsor

Brad Walter and Jonathan Dart
March 7, 2009

JUST days after his man-of-the-match performance in Manly's World Club Challenge triumph over Leeds, the rugby league player Anthony Watmough's playing future is in doubt after he allegedly assaulted a sponsor at the club's season launch.

Police are investigating Watmough for allegedly slapping a 48-year-old man in the face about 5pm yesterday after an argument.

The season launch started at 1pm at the Wharf Hotel in Manly, organised by the club as a public relations exercise with its sponsors.

It is understood the injured man was a club sponsor and was taken to hospital for treatment.

The incident followed a range of disciplinary actions taken against 25-year-old Watmough for alleged assault.

In 2007, Watmough had an apprehended violence order placed on him after allegedly assaulting a former girlfriend, though no charges were laid by police. In 2005, he was fined $3000 after a fight with her cousin at a family gathering.

A police spokeswoman said the incident was being investigated, but no charges had been laid. "Police have spoken to a number of witnesses and are currently reviewing CCTV footage of the incident," she said.

The Herald was unable to contact club officials or Watmough's manager, George Mimis, last night.

[Cowboy Titan]

NRL star quizzed over sex assault claims

Exclusive by Phil Rothfield
March 07, 2009 12:00am

MANLY'S champion fullback Brett Stewart is under investigation for an alleged sexual assault on Friday night after the club's 2009 season launch.

The Sunday Telegraph understands Manly police have issued an interim AVO against the Sea Eagles superstar, who is the face of the NRL?s multi-million dollar advertising campaign this year.

Stewart was interviewed by Manly police until 4am this morning before being allowed to leave with his manager George Mimis.

He cannot return to his home in Manly because it is only two houses away from the alleged victim.

The Sunday Telegraph understand Stewart left Manly police station and spent the night at his girlfriend?s home.

The Sea Eagles have hired top Sydney lawyer Geoff Bellew to handle the case and say Stewart will vigorously defend the allegations .

Senior NRL officials have told The Sunday Telegraph and decision will be made on Monday whether to scrap the season?s advertising campaign because of the seriousness of the allegations.

Another incident from the season launch in which second-rower Anthony Watmough punched a sponsor has been settled after a meeting this morning between the parties involved.

http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegrap...001021,00.html

[Cowboy Titan]

I can imagine the discussions going on at NRL headquarters will be heated. It would have costs a fortune to put together their advertising and to have to scrap it a few days out is not good.

[Ryan]

Alot of nasty 'stuff' has been come out of that club in the last few months. Add to this the boardroom\ownership issues......

Imagine that - your club just wins a premiership and WCC then self implodes before the next season starts. Poor bastards!

[Capital_Shark]

This is not a good lead in for the 2009 season, especially from 2008's premiers.

I'm a bit of an optimist though so I'll focus on the positives. Glad its Manly

I said just the other day to a bloke at work that it would take some extraordinary circumstances to keep Manly from being there in October to defend their title.

[Assassin]

The NRL's advertising department can't get a break... first they made Gaznier the face of the world cup a week before he jumped on a plane for french rugby now they a week out of season start and their "poster boy" for the 09 campaign is up to his neck in AVO's!

THey must be thinking simply ... why!

By the way this stuff isn't great with the current back room BS thats going on at Manly at the moment... the place is starting to give the impression of being one mighty castle made of cards just slowly falling apart one card at a time.... but will it tumble?

[Paul]

He got taken to hospital for a "slap"?

[Paul]

Ive just seen the girl that stewart allegedly assaulted was only 17

[Assassin]

17!.....oh this could get bad fast

[Paul]

http://bigpondnews.com/articles/TopS...lt_309638.html

[Super Cronk]

Yeah not good for the manly club. the watmough issue seems to be resolved...

not trying to make excuses or blame anyone here...but i find it extremely hard to believe Stewart would do something like this...he seems like a real good guy. guess we will wait till the investigation is finished up.

[J-Storm]

I'll take this with a grain of salt atm. It seems way too easy to blame these guys when past experience has shown that things aren't as bad as first made out to be. I agree with SC here, Stewart seems like a good guy, I've never heard anyone speak a bad word of him, then again, like tehy say, you shouldn't always judge a book by its cover so let it play out & then we can pass judgement...

[Sydney Titans Fanatic]

Man, now if stewart or watmough wanted to play in the uk there chances are proberley over....

How can you be taken to the hospital for a slap anyway....
and anthony laffranchi should be the face of the nrl

[Sydney Titans Fanatic]

Also stewart was taken to dee why police station not manly... there are like 5 police stations on the beachs

[titanstattman]

Man, now if stewart or watmough wanted to play in the uk there chances are proberley over....

How can you be taken to the hospital for a slap anyway....
and anthony laffranchi should be the face of the nrl

Very easy....Iv sent ppl to the hosp with a slap as a bouncer for years. I stoped punching and i went to slapping and it is very easy to break a jaw or nose and knock sum1 out.....