NRL player caught up in blackmail attempt over naked picture

An NRL club has notified police that a player has been caught up in an alleged extortion attempt, after receiving demands to pay $5000 or a lewd picture would be shared.

An NRL player has been caught up in an alleged blackmail attempt. Picture: Brendan Radke

A Sydney club has notified the NRL, police and social media companies after one of their star players was the subject of a blackmail attempt.

The player, who this masthead has elected not to name, is understood to have sent a lewd picture on social media, only to be told the image would be shared with friends and family unless they handed over $5,000.

The player opted not to pay the money and instead informed his club, who contacted police and the NRL to make them aware of the matter.

His club confirmed the player had followed the advice of police and told those closest to him of his predicament, informing them that he was being extorted and asking them to make a sexual harassment complaint should they be sent the image.

His club has supported him in the matter.

An NRL player has been caught up in an alleged blackmail attempt. Picture: Brendan Radke

“We have notified the NRL, police and social media companies, and diligently followed their advice,” a club spokesman said.

“The player is the victim here. It appears that this sort of incident is occurring on a regular basis to people across sport and society.”

The incident is a reminder to rugby league players of the dangers of sharing images on social media, in particular with people they don’t know.

It comes only a week after it emerged that the AFL was investigating a vast array of nude and graphic images involving more than 45 past and present players, which had been illegally shared across social media.

Police and the eSafety Commissioner were also alerted to the google drive containing the images, which were slammed as grubby and a breach of privacy.

Originally published as NRL player caught up in blackmail attempt over naked picture