Minichiello sacked, five others fined
Winger Anthony Minichiello become the second player in as many days to be sacked from the NSW State of Origin side over the game's latest sex scandal.
Five other Blues players - Willie Mason, Trent Waterhouse, Craig Wing, Craig Gower and Mark O'Meley - were also punished, fined a total of $20,000 by the NSW Rugby League for disobeying team orders.
NSWRL general manager Geoff Carr said Minichiello had been given his marching orders for taking a telephone out contrary to team instructions during a wild bonding session which stretched into the early hours of Wednesday morning.
The phone was later used by Mark Gasnier - who was sacked by the Blues - to leave an obscene message on a woman's phone.
"I'm extremely disappointed with the whole situation," Minichiello said.
Carr also confirmed a review of team management would take place after Origin I.
It's understood at least one manager will be sacked.
"I accept that the public are entitled to feel disappointed at the time it has taken to complete this investigation and its been unfortunate that we were not able to establish all the facts as quickly as we would like," Carr said.
"However the board today has shown the seriousness with which it is treating this matter.
"Players have lost their place in the team, others have been fined and the positions of senior team officials and security personnel is to be reviewed."
Post a comment about this article
Please sign in to leave a comment.
Becoming a member is free and easy, sign up here.