North Queensland Cowboys’ hooker, Jason Death (nicknamed ‘sudden’) was stood down from the side to meet his old club, Canberra Raiders, pending further investigations into an incident in a bar during the Cowboys’ World Club Challenge campaign in England the previous month.

Death was sent home early from the tour, after stripping in a Leeds’ bar, reportedly at the urging of several of his former Canberra Raiders teammates, and their ladies. No!!!

Cowboys’ coach, Tim Sheens said Death still had to give a full account of the episode and the Cowboys would deal with the matter in a fair and open manner.

The Cowboys had accounted for Leeds 48-14 at Headingley Stadium, in front of a crowd of 12,224, with Andrew Dunemann and Luke Phillips scoring two tries each.

Fullback, Scott Mahon missed the England tour, with Sheens preferring Reggie Cressbrook. Rather than spit the dummy, Mahon trained harder than ever, and was chosen at fullback for the match against the Raiders, when Cressbrook was ruled out through injury.

.In the ARL competition, controversial utility back, Julian O’Neill was named South Sydney’s skipper for a match against Sydney City Roosters.

.Brisbane Rugby League judiciary suspended Springwood player, Terry Sheppard for the entire 1998 season, for shoulder charging referee, Tony Wynne in a Second Division under-21 final at Scott Park, Holland Park.

.In England, a match between London Broncos and Oldham featured a 20 man brawl, after London’s former Lismore Marist Brothers’ centre, David Krause was hit high by Oldham’s John Clarke, who was sent from the field.

The northern hemisphere game was rocked by the news noted administrator, Peter Deakin had quit as Rugby League Europe marketing manager, for a more lucrative post with Saracens Rugby Union in England.

Jason Death