NZ prop stood down by Eels
Parramatta Eels Auckland-born prop Peni Terepo has been stood down by the club for allegedly abusing Air New Zealand staff in an alcohol-fuelled incident on a flight from Tonga to Auckland on Saturday night, with police being called to escort him off the plane.
The Eels confirmed they are aware of the incident and are investigating it.
‘‘The Parramatta Eels have been made aware of an alcoholrelated incident involving Peni Terepo from the weekend in New Zealand,’’ the Eels said in the statement.
‘‘The club has stood Peni down immediately, including this week’s Round 1 game against Penrith.
‘‘The club will now work with the relevant authorities in New Zealand, the NRL Integrity Unit and the RLPA to investigate the incident thoroughly. This process will then guide our next steps.
‘‘The club will make no further comment until the investigation is completed.’’
A member of the public who was on flight NZ977 from Nuku’alofa said Terepo drank his own alcohol in the airport lounge before boarding the plane.
He then brought it on to the plane in a coffee cup and refused to hand it over to Air New Zealand staff, insisting he was allowed to drink his own alcohol on the flight, the eyewitness said.
‘‘He threatened the air hostesses that his lawyer would be contacting them because they were wrong.
‘‘He was loud and disruptive during the safety briefing and I was surprised I could hear myself think while he was yelling across the aisle to a mate.
‘‘The [on-board] manager asked him to stop drinking but he continued to do so, arguing with the manager.
‘‘He was read out a warning, he continued to talk over the manager and was told that police authorities would meet him upon landing.
‘‘He continued to drink his alcohol in his coffee cup and the manager had to snatch a larger spirit bottle from him.’’
Terepo also acted inappropriately to a female flight attendant, the passenger said.
‘‘Who I really felt sorry for was the air hostess that sat across from him.
‘‘From her body language I could tell she felt uncomfortable as he prompted her with questions like ‘‘what are you doing after or tonight?’’ and ‘‘Do you come to Parramatta?’’ in his drunken state.’’
Terepo fell asleep later in the flight and after the plane landed, he was escorted off it by two police officers.
Both Air New Zealand and the police confirmed that an incident took place, but no charges were laid against Terepo, 27, who has played 101 games for the Eels.
Two years ago he was suspended by the Eels and fined A$15,000 (NZ$15,500) for failing to inform the Eels that he had been convicted of careless driving in New Zealand.
Terepo was involved in a crash that saw him thrown through the car’s windscreen. He was charged for refusing to provide a bloodalcohol test and was banned from driving for seven months.
It is the latest event in a summer from hell for the NRL, with off field incidents involving Jarryd Hayne allegedly sexually assaulting a woman, Greg Inglis charged with speeding and drink driving, Jack de Belin charged with aggravated sexual assault, Dylan Napa’s lewd videos, Ben Barba involved in a domestic incident in a casino, plus numerous others.