22 May 2013

Te'o in spotlight over alleged assault

7:07 pm on 22 May 2013

The Auckland-born rugby league forward Ben Te'o has rejected claims he allegedly assaulted a woman in Brisbane.

Details of the story are set be aired on the Nine Network news tonight.

Two other NRL footballers are expected to be named in the TV report, but it is believed they were not directly involved in the incident, which is understood to have happened last month after the Australia-New Zealand rugby league test played in Canberra.

In a statement, Te'o says he refutes entirely any suggestion he acted improperly.

The Queensland State of Origin forward says he found himself in unfortunate circumstances he claims weren't caused by him and he acted appropriately to deal with a difficult situation, calling the police to report the incident and have the female removed from the house.

South Sydney CEO Shane Richardson says they're not going to stand Teo down at this stage.

The NRL's integrity unit has begun an investigation into the matter.

A police spokesman's confirmed officers attended an incident on that night but that all allegations had been formally withdrawn by the complainant, who requested no further police action - and the matter is no longer under investigation.