Another league assault charge
The Age
Thursday September 17, 2009
IN recent days Wests Tigers dreadlocked star Daine Laurie attended Goulburn jail as part of his football club's community goodwill gesture to promote rugby league. Yesterday he was questioned and charged by police in relation to a domestic violence assault against his partner.Laurie, 25, is alleged to have assaulted the woman at their Leumeah home shortly after midnight on Wednesday. It is understood Laurie's partner had ended their relationship several weeks ago and had been in negotiations with Laurie when the alleged attack which split her lip and bruised her face occurred.Laurie had appeared to have turned the corner on a string of misbehaviour offences and a previous assault case which landed him a 10-month stint in prison within the closeknit structure of the Wests Tigers club. However earlier this year the club had demoted Laurie to the lower grades because he missed several training sessions. It is believed at the time Laurie was undergoing domestic issues.In this instance, it is believed Laurie will argue he was protecting himself when the alleged assault occurred.The player's manager, Chris Haddad, leapt to Laurie's defence."It's very petty," Haddad claimed. "Nothing really happened. Daine knows he didn't do anything wrong. They had an argument over some silly things . . . he always does his best to fix things. All couples argue, but Daine's a very good fella."NRL chief executive David Gallop said he was satisfied with the action the Wests Tigers club had undertaken and said the club was continuing to keep the NRL informed. Laurie has been bailed to appear at Campbelltown Local Court on September 22.The fate of South Sydney coach Jason Taylor will be resolved today, the NRL club announced.Taylor and his manager Wayne Beavis fronted the Rabbitohs board yesterday following the coach's response to a breach notice issued against him after an incident involving prop David Fa'alogo at an end-of-season function in a Sydney hotel.Souths chief executive Shane Richardson said in a statement the board is taking the matter seriously and won't be rushed into any decision."The club has followed due process through all of its investigations and deliberations, and we expect to announce a decision tomorrow," he said. With AAP
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