02.36 pm, Sunday November 08 2009

Matthew Johns disputes group sex details

Thursday, May 14, 2009
By Wade O'Leary and Jack Hawke, ninemsn
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NRL personality Matthew Johns has refuted some of the claims of the woman at the centre of a group sex scandal that has cost him his career.

In an exclusive interview on A Current Affair, Johns told Tracy Grimshaw the woman was a "willing participant" who never objected to the advances of other players.

Watch ACA's interview: Part one | Part two | Part three

"That's totally untrue," Johns told ACA of the woman's claim she did not intend to have sex with more than two Sharks players.

"I would say that on the night when she came back to the room she was a willing participant in everything that went on."

Johns was one of two players who initially went with the woman to a hotel room to have sex.

He said he was not initially aware of other players entering the room.

"At the time when I went back I was completely unaware of other people coming into the room," Johns said.

"At the point that they did I stepped away from it (the bed).

"In the statement made to police it says she encouraged players to come forward."

But the former Newcastle Knights star and representative footballer said he took full responsibility for the incident. "I've never blamed anyone else in this situation except myself," Johns said.

"I take full responsibility for the predicament that I find myself in."

Also facing the cameras was Johns's wife Trish, who admitted she was "shocked and disgusted" when she found out what had happened.

"But he told me every last detail of the events ... my inquisition went on for months and even years," she said.

"If he wasn't totally honest with me then we couldn't have gone on as a married couple."

Mrs Johns also said her husband's "greatest crime" was "being unfaithful to me as a wife" and insisted it was up to her alone to judge him on that, but added that she found the whole episode disturbing.

"I certainly wouldn't want it to be my daughter," she said.

Last night Grimshaw demanded that Johns "step up" and appear on the show to "face some hard questions". (Watch more: Challenge put to Johns)

Johns' future has been under a cloud since the ABC's Four Corners program aired allegations about his involvement in a 2002 group sex incident in New Zealand while he was playing for Cronulla. (Read more: Group sex "destroyed" woman's life)

Earlier today, Johns was stood down indefinitely from all his on-air commitments with the Nine Network.

Nine CEO David Gyngell said in a statement that the mutual decision had been taken in the best interests of the Nine Network, Matthew Johns and his family, the game and its supporters. (Watch more: Johns enters Nine)

"The fact is, whatever the arguments about the details of the New Zealand incident involving Cronulla players in 2002, the conduct and its aftermath was simply unacceptable, fullstop," he said.

"I fully endorse David Gallop's comments concerning the indefensible conduct of some players and the lack of respect for women — and the critical focus on all stakeholders to help eradicate it from our game."

"I join with him in extending my apologies and sympathy to the young woman involved in the incident, who clearly is still distressed as a consequence." (Read more: NRL chief slams attitudes)

Mr Gyngell said Johns had agreed the decision was in everyone's best interests.

The former Test star arrived at Nine's Sydney offices this morning, along with his manager John Fordham, for the meeting with Mr Gyngell.

In yet more fallout from the explosive Four Corners program, a young Newcastle Knights player who made the "cuddle and cab" remark has received counselling from the club. (Read more: Knights player counselled over 'cab remark'

Simon Williams, a promising Under 20s centre, has been shielded from the media since telling the program much of the drama could be avoided if the female involved was properly thanked and "put in a cab".

 

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