Matabad,It was Orfords car
MATT ORFORD's rough initiation to Canberra has hit a new low, with a frustrated fan vandalising the star halfback's high-priced Audi.
Witnesses reported a person dressed in Raiders supporters' gear attacked the former Dally M Medallist's car with a key in the Canberra Stadium car park in an ugly aftermath to last Sunday's humiliating 49-12 loss to the Wests Tigers.
Raiders' ball-boys, cheerleaders and the players' partners and families were also subject to verbal abuse.
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It was Canberra's seventh straight defeat and left the club pinned at the bottom of the NRL ladder.
Orford's vehicle - included as part of a third-party deal which brought the 33-year-old to the Raiders - was parked in the section of the car park reserved for players and VIPs.
It is unclear whether the Raiders have taken the matter to ACT Police.
Raiders chairman John McIntyre was disgusted by the incident.
''I'm absolutely appalled by it,'' McIntyre said.
''Hopefully systems are in place that they'll nail whoever it is. We've got such a keen bunch of supporters, it's a shame it can be brought down by one boofhead. I'm very disappointed that it happened.''
Orford declined to comment.
Raiders prop Brett White hoped authorities would throw the book at the perpetrator. ''If the culprits are found, I don’t see why there shouldn’t be bans,’’ White said.
‘‘The Bulldogs had incidents like that a few years ago and were quick to step in and take action. No doubt if anyone’s found to be doing that the club will take action swiftly. I don’t think it belongs in our game.’’
‘‘We all love our game and are very passionate about it, passionate about our club, but I think it’s going too far. I know fans can get frustrated and voice their opinion quite a lot, but when it comes to damaging individual’s property, it’s going too far.’’
Raiders chief executive Don Furner told ABC Radio he was ‘‘embarrassed to be a Canberran’’.
‘‘I would hope that our fans wouldn’t go vandalising somebody’s car after a game, I think it’s pathetic’’
Furner said. ‘‘I’m a bit embarrassed to be a Canberran if that’s the way our fans are going to react, by vandalising cars. It is gutless. Apart from the fact it’s not very brave, it is a crime to go around vandalising things.’’
Raiders players were also heckled after they completed their pre-game warm-ups at the adjoining AIS athletics track on the way to the ground.
The Raiders declined to reveal the extent of the damage to Orford’s vehicle. The majority of Raiders players were unaware of the incident until yesterday.
Rightly or wrongly, Orford has copped the bulk of the blame for Canberra’s horrible start to the season.
His signature was heralded as a coup for a club which had serious top-four aspirations. A series of injuries meant the premiership-winning playmaker had an interrupted pre-season. Orford has struggled to recapture his best form. He made his debut for the Raiders in the round two loss to the Brisbane Broncos.
The lowlight came when Orford knocked on from a scrum in the final minute against Gold Coast, allowing the Titans to level the scores on full-time. The Titans went on to win the game in golden point. Orford missed two weeks with a lower back injury before showing glimpses of his best in the 37-point mauling by the Tigers.
Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/league-news/raiders-boofhead-vandalises-orfords-car-20110504-1e8lh.html#ixzz1LPNjG4lx
