Tim Smith Involved in Alleged Assault

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Eels halfback Smith accused of 'assault'20 December 2005



Parramatta halfback Tim Smith has reportedly been included in a police report stemming from an incident at The Rocks last Friday.

Local resident Steve Greige has alleged he was assaulted by Smith after greeting the NRL rookie of the year while walking home along George Street in The Rocks, a Network Ten news report said.

"He just raced over, flew over, yelling expletives and going off like a lunatic and came over and grabbed me by the shirt," Greige told Channel 10.

"I'm not a Parramatta fan but I told him I'm a Parramatta fan just to calm him down.

Greige told Channel 10 he reported the incident to The Rocks police and the Parramatta Football Club.

Eels media manager Damien Kelly said: "We have spoken to Tim but until the police finish their investigation of the incident there is nothing more we can say."

http://www.nrl.com/news.cfm?ID=13389

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new report ... not too much more information though

Fan claims Eels star attacked him
By Peter Badel
January 15, 2006

PARRAMATTA rugby league star Tim Smith is under police investigation after claims he assaulted a patron outside a Sydney establishment.

The man allegedly subjected to Smith's fury has vowed to fight the matter in court, accusing Parramatta of attempting to cover up the incident.

Steve Greige, 31, has alleged he was attacked without provocation by Smith after greeting the NRL rookie of the year outside the Mercantile Hotel in The Rocks on December 17.

But Greige is outraged at the Eels, saying the club tried to defuse the drama by claiming Smith was a victim of mistaken identity.

The club later backflipped, ordering Smith - who turned 21 on Friday - to ring Greige and apologise for his actions.

Police interviewed Greige for four hours before handing the matter to detectives. When contacted by The Sunday Telegraph, Parramatta chief executive Denis Fitzgerald said the club would make no comment until the investigation was complete.

But Greige, who is a non-drinker, is incensed at the manner in which Parramatta have handled the affair.

"I'm going ahead with this matter now - I'm pressing charges," said Greige, who lives in The Rocks. "I'm disillusioned with how Parramatta has handled this. I don't know how they can sleep at night."

The incident occurred around 12.30am on December 17, when Greige was walking home after a night out with a friend. Greige insists he did not provoke Smith, a rising star who is regarded as Parramatta's best halfback prospect since Peter Sterling.


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"I was walking home past the Mercantile (Hotel) when I saw a guy urinating against a tree," he said. "I recognised him as Tim Smith. I just called out, 'Hey Timmy Smith'.
The next thing he pulled up his pants, raced across the street, grabbed me by the shirt and tried to throw a right hook.

"Fortunately my mate was there and he managed to stop him, so he didn't connect. But he was going off, saying: 'Tell me what you said or I will bash you'."

When Greige reported the incident to Eels official Tony Zappia, he ordered Smith to ring his victim to apologise.

However, Greige claims another Eels official told a reporter inquiring about the alleged incident that Greige may have been culpable after making an inflammatory remark.

"I feel like Parramatta are trying to play me for a fool," Greige said. "I'm not out to ruin Tim Smith's career, but something should be done."