National Rugby League Head of Football Todd Greenberg "will be asked to front an investigation into the possible cover-up of an alleged domestic assault involving Bulldogs star Ben Barba," according to Adrian Proszenko of the BRISBANE TIMES.
The NRL confirmed on Monday night that "it had engaged the services of an independent senior counsel -- rather than its own integrity and compliance unit -- to avoid conflicts of interest in a case involving one of its most senior employees."
However, Greenberg, who was the Canterbury chief when the alleged cover-up took place in February, "will not have to stand down while the investigation runs its course."
Australian Rugby League Commission COO Jim Doyle confirmed that "Sydney barrister Tony Bannon, SC, would begin his review on Tuesday" (BRISBANE TIMES, 9/3).
In Sydney, Brad Walter reported Barba's partner, Ainslie Currie, has not yet been contacted by the leading barrister heading up the inquiry "in an indication the investigation's main focus is the game's integrity rather than the incident itself." By appointing Bannon, the NRL "has shown how seriously it is treating the matter, which is widely considered to be the biggest test of the game's integrity since the formation of the ARL Commission 18 months ago." Greenberg is understood to be confident he and the Bulldogs "will be cleared of wrongdoing as they urged Currie to go to the police if she had been assaulted, but her concern was for Barba" (SYDNEY MORNING HERALD, 9/4). Also in Sydney, Dean Ritchie reported Penrith Panthers Dir and former rugby league player Greg Alexander "has launched a stinging attack on under-siege" Greenberg, claiming the new NRL head of football has "pulled the wool over everyone's eyes." Alexander said, "He has hidden a potential timebomb from his employers." Alexander went on the attack Tuesday night, saying, "I don’t know how Todd Greenberg thought he could keep this a secret. It is impossible to keep a secret these days" (DAILY TELEGRAPH, 9/4).
