The woman at the centre of the George Burgess sex claim allegedly contacted the star footballer and his three brothers on Instagram asking for signed merchandise for a charity event.
Daily Mail Australia can reveal new information about the case against Burgess after police charged the 29-year-old St George Illawarra Dragons forward this week with one count of sexual touching without consent.
Police will allege a woman made a complaint after Burgess allegedly went to her home at Mascot, in Sydney’s inner south, in early March.
It will be alleged that the woman reached out to all four Burgess brothers through Instagram direct message seeking a signed jersey which she planned to sell off at a charity event.
It is understood brothers Sam, Luke and Tom rebuffed the request however George allegedly indicated to the woman he was willing to oblige.
George Burgess with wife Joanna who is standing by the NRL star amid his sexual touching charge
George Burgess was allegedly delivering a signed jersey to a fan who contacted him on Instagram when the sexual touching incident allegedly happened
George Burgess seen attending Mascot Police station on Monday where he cooperated with police
Police will allege that some time before St George Illawarra’s win over Penrith on Friday, Burgess allegedly delivered the jersey to the woman’s home where they engaged in friendly conversation and ‘a cup of tea’.
Sometime later the woman contacted police claiming she has been touched by Burgess in an inappropriate manner as they were ‘hugging goodbye’ and that he had ‘squeezed her bottom’.
Burgess was charged on Monday with sexually touching another person without consent – a charge which carries a maximum jail sentence of five years.
He and lawyer Bryan Wrench willingly went to Mascot police station where the English-born front-rower was charged and granted bail.
Burgess will face the Downing Centre Local Court on April 13, and in the meantime must reside at a North Wollongong home.
Police will allege the woman reached out to all four Burgess brothers through Instagram direct message asking for a signed jersey, but only George replied
Joanna Burgess posted happy snaps of the couple this week after her husband was charged
The footballer also faces a nervous wait as NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo mulls using his discretionary power to sideline the English international under the code’s no-fault stand-down policy.
Burgess could potentially face missing the entire 2022 NRL season depending on what direction the case takes in the coming months.
A conviction would likely end Burgess’ NRL career indefinitely.
George Burgesshas been stood down from the NRL’s round three game this weekend
The woman at the centre of the scandal also allegedly approached Sam (c), twin Tom (l) and Luke (not pictured)
Dragons coach Anthony Griffin confirmed Burgess would not face the Cronulla Sharks in Wollongong tonight.
The club earlier named him in the 24-man squad for the match, saying it had not yet received ‘the necessary and required information pertaining to the Burgess matter and therefore cannot come to a decision on the player’s availability’.
‘The Dragons will continue to work closely with all relevant parties, including the NRL integrity unit and police, to determine the next steps surrounding this matter,’ it said.
The NRL has discretionary power to suspend Burgess for much longer, and Abdo is expected to make a ruling within the next 24 hours.
‘Once we have reviewed all the facts we will make a decision on whether we will invoke the no-fault stand-down policy,’ he said at the NRL’s launch of multicultural round on Tuesday.
‘Before we pass judgment or even provide opinion on a matter like this, I think it is very important you understand exactly what has happened as much as you can.
‘Obviously this is a matter that has been charged by police and we need to review the charge sheet.
‘Typically what we do in criminal matters is allow natural justice and the criminal process to unfold.
‘Whether or not we invoke the no-fault stand down policy we will need to carefully consider.’
Joanna, a former lingerie model, posted a sign of her support to Instagram on Wednesday
Meanwhile Burgess’s wife Joanne made it clear she intended to stand by her husband during the ordeal, sharing a happy selfie with George to her Instagram stories soon after his arrest.
The former lingerie model wed the Dragons front rower in 2016 and the pair have three children Boston, 6, Birdie, 4, and Blainey, 2.
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