Crime Squad on trail of NRL cover-up over Sam Burgess claims

Detectives have swooped on The Australian’s investi­gation into an alleged cover-up at the highest levels of South Sydney.

South Sydney Doctor Andrew McDonald at work during the NRL elimination final match between the Rabbitohs and the Newcastle Knights at ANZ Stadium in Sydney on Sunday. Picture: Getty Images

Senior detectives have interviewed the former wife of NRL star Sam Burgess and visited several locations, including an underground car park where South Sydney Rabbitohs officials allegedly conducted a clandestine illicit drug test as part of the club’s efforts to cover up drug-taking, infidelity and domestic violence.

After exposure in an investigation by The Australian of the scandal engulfing one of the biggest clubs and players in the NRL, investigators attached to the NSW Police Force’s Organised Crime Squad over the weekend also visited the Sydney pharmacy at the centre of a claim that the club’s chief medical officer, Andrew McDonald, allegedly prescribed an injectable tranquilliser for Burgess during a drug-induced bender under another man’s name.

The next day Burgess was secretly tested by the club, and the subsequent positive result was then allegedly filed under a fake name to protect the star.

Dr McDonald is still in his role at South Sydney and worked on the field at Sunday’s final where Souths defeated Newcastle 46-20.

The NRL Integrity Unit has also launched an investigation and is also expected to interview Phoebe Burgess as they pursue South Sydney’s handling of domestic violence, drug and harassment allegations.

Burgess, who has stood down from his coaching role at the club, has denied any wrongdoing and claimed through his lawyer that the reports are defamatory.

Dr McDonald has declined to comment.

Sam Burgess, right, with wife Phoebe and her father, Mitch Hooke. Picture: Instagram.

The police and NRL investigations follow Friday’s report by The Australian, which included documentary evidence of allegations against Burgess, including an alleged domestic violence assault on his pregnant wife, recreational and prescription drug use as well as Burgess’s own claims he waited outside the home of a rival player and wanted to assault him.

The stories have prompted a crisis at the top of rugby league, with executives, owners and club chairs contacting The Australian to say they believe “heads should roll” at Souths.

Souths chief executive Blake Solly, who has been in the top job for four years, underwent a 2½-hour grilling by the NRL Integrity Unit on Friday. On Sunday, he denied knowledge of any allegations against Burgess, saying the cover-up claim “makes me feel sick”.

Mr Solly told The Australian he had referred to the NRL Integrity Unit a Melbourne woman’s complaint that Burgess had an extramarital affair with her but the woman said she never heard from anyone at the NRL.

“I have never heard from the integrity unit, I have never had a missed call, Blake never mentioned an NRL integrity (unit) or department,” the woman said. “I went to them, South Sydney, for help and support and essentially what they did was feed me to the wolves.”

The woman had extensive text and phone communications with Mr Solly after she contacted the club in September 2018 and told him she had changed her phone number to avoid Burgess.

Andrew McDonald, second from right, at ANZ Stadium in Sydney on Sunday. Picture: Brett Costello

She said after her complaint, Burgess bombarded her with calls, using threatening language, on her old and new numbers.

Mr Solly denied knowledge of this and on Sunday denied ever having known of claims of domestic violence against Burgess.

Phoebe Burgess and her father, Mitch Hooke, have both told police in sworn statements that a club employee, Dr McDonald, was present at the Burgess family home when Sam Burgess allegedly assaulted his eight months-pregnant wife.

“Allegations the club would cover up domestic violence made me feel sick; there is just no place in society for violence against women, no place at all,” Mr Solly told The Sunday Telegraph.

NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo has said the code would take “strong action” if Souths was proven to have covered up misbehaviour. The NRL is also looking into the conduct of Dr McDonald, the longest-serving medico in the NRL.

Sam Burgess with coach Wayne Bennett last month at Souths Sydney Rabbitohs training. Picture. Phil Hillyard

On Sunday, a detective sergeant was seen leaving the southern highlands home of Mr Hooke, who has provided police with documents to back his claim that Dr McDonald prescribed him the tranquilliser but administered it to Burgess.

Detectives from the Hume Local Area Command are investigating fresh domestic violence allegations against Burgess.

The Australian revealed on Friday that Phoebe Burgess had provided police with a statement detailing an alleged episode where Burgess, after admitting using cocaine, assaulted her in their Maroubra home while she was eight months’ pregnant by crushing her in an aggressive embrace as she screamed and struggled to break free.

Local detectives had already charged Burgess with intimidation (domestic violence) in relation to a separate confrontation with Mr Hooke, and taken out an apprehended violence order on Mr Hooke’s behalf.

The Organised Crime Squad, part of NSW’s State Crime Command, takes charge of any investigation into serious alleged criminal activity involving rugby league clubs or players, as it does with gaming, racing and activities associated with bikie gangs or other organised criminal groups.

An unnamed person close to Burgess was quoted in newspapers on Sunday as saying the Rabbitohs development coach, “abhorred” domestic violence and was deeply upset by the claims.

As part of their investigation, the NRL integrity unit is expected to speak to former South Sydney player Jason Clark, who was present when Burgess was allegedly on a drug-fuelled bender.

Clark is now in England and no longer a registered NRL player, which means the integrity unit cannot compel him to give evidence.

Under NRL rules, all registered players and officials must make themselves, as well as their phones and computers, available to integrity unit. It means Burgess himself will have to make himself available to the integrity unit if he wants to retain a role at Souths, where he is a development coach.

Additional reporting: Brent Read