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Decision on Broncos investigation weeks away: police

Posted October 14, 2008 18:32:00
Updated October 14, 2008 20:10:00

Three Broncos - Karmichael Hunt, Sam Thaiday and Darius Boyd - were questioned over the sexual assault allegation.

Three Broncos - Karmichael Hunt, Sam Thaiday and Darius Boyd - were questioned over the sexual assault allegation. (AAP: Dave Hunt, file photo)

Police say it will be weeks before they reveal the outcome of an investigation into sexual assault allegations against three Brisbane Broncos players.

Police have now finished their investigation into a formal complaint from a 24-year-old woman about an incident in a Fortitude Valley nightclub toilet last month.

Karmichael Hunt, Sam Thaiday and Darius Boyd were all questioned over the incident.

Queensland Police Commissioner Bob Atkinson says senior officers will carry out an internal review before the case is handed to an independent lawyer or the Director of Public Prosecutions.

He says he has the utmost confidence in police investigators but, given the high level of interest in the case, he wants to seek outside advice.

"It's not just a question of justice being done ... in some cases it's important, it's being seen to be done as well," he said.

The final outcome is not expected for at least another four weeks.

Booze ban

Earlier today, the Broncos announced a 10-point plan for players to limit excessive drinking, including night curfews and alcohol bans on certain days.

Broncos players who break the new alcohol plan will miss NRL matches.

"Handing that responsibility to the players and asking them to adhere to that, they've let us down on occasions," Broncos boss Bruno Cullen said.

"We're saying now that that's it. From now on, a punishment for a breach of those rules will be missing games."

Meanwhile, a Griffith University behavioural expert says managers of professional sports people need to consider giving their clients ongoing behavioural education.

Griffith sports college manager Michael Jeh says clubs cannot baby the players forever.

"A long-term education policy where they move away eventually from a regime where you tell players you can't drink and physically put bans on them," he said.

"Hopefully we'll get to the situation where the next generation will make these commonsense decisions as part of their every day life."

Tags: nrl, assault, brisbane-4000

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