Bulldogs Coffs Harbour Review

By Shayne BugdenOctober 29, 2016FacebookTwitterGoogleEmailTWELVE years after the infamous Coffs Harbour sexual assault case ripped the Canterbury Bulldogs apart, the NSW Police Force has gone to the rare step of reviewing its handling of the case – and it’s due to a year-long campaign of unrelenting pressure by Dogs great Graeme Hughes.On February 22, 2004, police received a complaint alleging several Bulldogs players had sexually assaulted a woman at a hotel in the NSW North Coast town.What followed was a TV, radio and newspaper firestorm as police brought players in for questioning and released statements to the media on their progress in the investigation – statements that are one of the issues at the heart of Hughes’ mission to have the case reviewed.“Players were put through hell in the court of public opinion with smears on their reputations that last to this day,” Hughes tells RLW.“I want the NSW Police to apologise to them and the club.”On top of that, the team lost about $650,000 in sponsorship and was fined a further $500,000 by the NRL, with $350,000 of that suspended.Club great Steve Mortimer, then Bulldogs CEO, resigned over the scandal and long-serving team manager Garry Hughes, brother of Graeme, was sacked.No charges were ever laid against any of the players, and former detectives who worked the case insist it was obvious very early on that the evidence against the Bulldogs didn’t stack up – another of the big issues Hughes is raising.Hughes first made a complaint about the handling of the case to the NSW Police Force a year ago. He’s since chased the matter up numerous times, even corresponding with the NSW Minister for Police and Office of the NSW Premier.Eventually, he succeeded in having the case reviewed. That review was concluded in mid-August and is now with the NSW Police Office of General Counsel, awaiting a decision on whether action will be taken over its findings.As RLW went to press, that decision had not been taken – and the NSW Police had not given Hughes a time frame for when that might happen, despite having had two months to do so.The former Bulldog’s list of complaints over the case is long and complex, but some of his key grievances are:– That the investigation was pursued despite the lack of evidence to support the accusations – something detectives on the case repeatedly pointed out to their superiors.– That false and misleading statements were made to the media in spite of the evidence.-That police failed to consider charges against the alleged victim for making false accusations, even though detectives wanted to re-interview her with a view to doing so.-That police referred the case to the Department of Public Prosecutions unnecessarily, given the obvious lack of evidence.“I want to get a clear explanation about why millions of rugby league fans didn’t get access to the truth,” says Hughes.“I also want to know why no apology was made to the club and the players.“Guys are still suffering over this and many people still think of them as guilty. That can’t continue.”

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Replies

Nidge October 29, 2016 at 7:45am

Interesting. i spoke with Grahame Hughes brother Mark, a year or two after this happened. He was at the time working for Souths in recruitment. It was after a Parra v Souths game at PJ Gallaghers in 2005 i think it was. He was working at the Dogs when this allegedly occurred. He has a very different opinion on what went on compared to his brother. He didnt name names but hinted towards wrong doings from arguably the best player running around today. Who knows, Mark maybe full of shit but this conversation stood out for me that night. That along with the amount of cigarettes Tim Smith bludged off me that night!
- Wizardssleeves official receipts > Nidge October 31, 2016 at 12:37am
  
  Nidge I've attended a wedding and sat next to Mark and yes I was told the same thing . Marks version of events is totally opposite to the story of Canterbury innocence we're hearing from Grahame . SBW also played a part in this .
northcoast eel October 29, 2016 at 8:39am

Agree Nidge. Player in question has a very distinct laugh.
coco October 29, 2016 at 8:57am

Interesting- my info is that something happened however the chances of getting a conviction was basically zero due to a number of factors

Doesn't equate to innocence though.
- Ham Sammich > coco October 29, 2016 at 9:08am
  
  Hey coco I know this is off topic from the thread but who is Kalyn Ponga's cousin that plays for Parra?
- Trini Lopez calling Go Go Gomez > coco October 29, 2016 at 9:44am
  
  I remember reading of one senior detective’s disappointment that the case was closed. He was adamant that players were answerable.
- coco > coco October 29, 2016 at 9:48am
  
  Kenny E
  
  That's also why tamou was keen for parra at one stage
- Anguillidae > coco October 29, 2016 at 1:06pm
  
  Coco - you are spot on. I live in Coffs and that is the info that I got too.
- Wizardssleeves official receipts > coco October 31, 2016 at 12:38am
  
  She was paid off .
Robert Lloyd October 29, 2016 at 9:42am

There was Coffs Harbour #1 and Coffs Harbour#2. My information was that Coffs Harbour #1 led to that player being shafted by the club. Coffs Harbour #2 was a bit different. The Dogs had a priest up at Coffs allegedly telling the players what to say or not to say to the police. No pun intended, but might be best for Mr Hughes to let sleeping dogs lie?