ID :
75382
Sat, 08/15/2009 - 09:47
Auther :

No change on Inglis suspension: Storm



Greg Inglis is expected to resume training next week as Melbourne prepare to ease
the troubled Test star back into his usual NRL life.

Inglis was stood down indefinitely on Monday after being charged with intentionally
causing injury and unlawful assault of his girlfriend Sally Robinson at his
Melbourne home.
Inglis appeared in Sunshine Magistrates Court on Wednesday and the case was
adjourned to August 26.
He is likely to be re-interviewed by police over the weekend after Robinson provided
a new statement that may help clear Inglis of the charges.
The Storm say Inglis will remain suspended indefinitely despite Robinson's new
information. However, the club is preparing for him to resume training in Melbourne
next week.
It is believed Inglis's wellbeing would be best-served by getting back to his rugby
league commitments, with a return to training the first step in his full comeback to
playing.
While no date has been set on Inglis making a playing comeback, the Queensland
Origin hero could return for next week's grand final re-match with Manly in
Melbourne or may not play again until the NRL finals.
The NRL is closely monitoring how the Storm handle the situation and have the right
to suspend Inglis from playing for a longer period if they are not satisfied with
Melbourne's actions.
Storm chief executive Brian Waldron issued a statement on Friday expressing concern
at detailed speculation into the lives of Robinson and Inglis.
"While public interest in the matter is unavoidable, the welfare of the individuals
concerned remains the primary focus of the Melbourne Storm club," Waldron said.
"Not only are there legal processes to respect but at the centre of this must be the
health, safety and wellbeing of the two people concerned in the matter, particularly
Sally.
"Our strong advice is that they each need some privacy as they independently deal
with what is a difficult and now all too public situation.
"There is no change to the club's position in terms of Greg's future availability on
the field - our priorities are the health, safety and wellbeing of the individuals
involved, and our respect for the legal process."
Robinson's lawyer Bob Galbally said on Thursday his client had made a new statement
to police providing other significant facts they were not aware of when Inglis was
charged.
He told Fairfax he was concerned the public had been left with the wrong impression
about what occurred in the alleged assault at his home on August 9 and hoped police
would conclude no offences had been committed "now the full facts are able to be
investigated".
Waldron said the Storm had sought advice from Professor Ian Hickie, a national
mental health expert from the University of Sydney.
Hickie was quoted as saying: "The media has an overwhelming duty to respect this
request and not place undue pressure on the parties involved, especially Sally.
"Given the sensitive nature of the matter it is imperative that media outlets to
demonstrate responsible journalism.
"The media must be extremely careful with this extremely sensitive issue."

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