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Roosters reportedly furious after Sam Burgess sexting scandal twist revealed

The Sydney Roosters have reportedly demanded NRL action to clear the player caught up in the Sam Burgess sexting scandal.

Wayne Bennett denies any knowledge of Sam Burgess allegations

The Sydney Roosters have reportedly demanded action from the NRL to clear the name of rookie player Billy Smith following another twist in the alleged Sam Burgess sexting scandal.

The former captain of the South Sydney Rabbitohs has been rocked by damning allegations, reported by The Australian, that have seen him temporarily stand down from his coaching role at the club along with his Fox Sports duties.

Burgess has strongly denied the allegations.

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Smith was again dragged into Burgess’ alleged sexting scandal this week when The Australian reported Burgess believed the young Chooks player played a role in the leaking of the story because he knew the woman at the centre of the incident.

Burgess was eventually cleared of any wrongdoing following an NRL Integrity Unit investigation in 2018 after the woman alleged she was exposed to inappropriate images in a video chat from one of Burgess’s social media accounts.

RELATED: Wayne Bennett breaks silence on Burgess allegations

Sam Burgess on the field.
Sam Burgess on the field.

The integrity unit investigation is also reported to have cleared Smith of any involvement in the scandal — and The Sydney Morning Herald reports the Roosters now want the NRL to make that information public to clear Smith’s name.

However, Burgess is reported to have attempted to confront Smith on and off the field about the false rumours.

The Englishman was charged by the NRL judiciary in 2019 for pulling Smith’s hair during a game.

The Australian report alleges that Burgess also “sat outside the home of Smith for an hour” as he looked to confront him over the belief he was responsible for “exposing the sexting scandal”.

In a text message obtained by The Australian, Burgess is alleged to have wrote: “I will get him when I retire”.

Channel 9 journalist Danny Weidler reported Sunday the Roosters are angry about the reports regarding Smith.

Phoebe Burgess with Sam Burgess and baby Poppy Burgess. Source: Instagram @mrsphoebeburgess
Phoebe Burgess with Sam Burgess and baby Poppy Burgess. Source: Instagram @mrsphoebeburgess

It comes after NewsCorp obtained WhatsApp messages between Burgess and a woman from October 2017 to May 2018, in which they have flirty exchanges and organise to meet up at Melbourne hotels.

Meanwhile, NSW Police on Saturday confirmed it has set up a strike force to investigate domestic violence and drug allegations against former South Sydney Rabbitohs star Sam Burgess.

A spokeswoman told NCA NewsWire on Saturday the probe was being conducted under Strike Force Irrabella.

ARLC chairman Peter V’landys said the explosive allegations of a Rabbitohs club cover-up to protect Burgess were “pretty serious”.

The allegations have been vehemently denied by Burgess’s lawyer.

“The allegations are false and constitute an indefensible defamation against my client,” Mark O’Brien told The Australian.

“It is apparent sources of the false allegations are those currently in dispute with my client over various issues.”

Original URL: https://www.news.com.au/sport/nrl/roosters-reportedly-furious-after-sam-burgess-sexting-scandal-twist-revealed/news-story/d3ce19dc47b45fc50d668b48be9911a2