Probe aims to finger ring-in

A special hearing of the JDG's judiciary committee will decide if the Brisbane Bolts breached the national game code by deliberately fielding a SARS-infected ring-in player during last weekend's match against the Perth Prostates.
During a visit yesterday to the Royal Brisbane Hospital's high-security infectious diseases unit, JDG national president Sir Llewellyn Edwards said the hearing would be held next week.
"The JDG takes seriously any attempt to undermine the integrity of the game," Sir Llewellyn said after visiting several recovering Prostate players.
"The mums and dads of Australia and hundreds of thousands of Aussie kids pay good money to see their heroes in action.
"I've had dozens of phone calls since the weekend from people complaining that they'd been tricked by the ring-in attempt - and clearly they don't like it.
"There were also one or two who complained about the SARS thing, but we'll deal with that at a later date, perhaps."
The controversy arose during the seventh eurus of the Bolts v Prostates game played at Colston Park Stadium last Saturday and Sunday.
Sir Llewellyn said the suspicions of a twelfth-square umpire were aroused when all Bolts players, except the alleged ring-in, retreated to the point-blank line immediately after the 19-minute bell.
JDG rules state only 85% of players may retreat in such circumstances - a stipulation that has been in place since rule changes inspired by the Milat-Bryant Report of 1996 that took away the team captain's discretion to determine how many players retreated and how many stayed for the mandatory tandem-lance drill.
"The umpire already had doubts about the white surgical masks Bolts players insisted on wearing during the match," Sir Llewellyn said.
"He didn't fully accept the explanation that they were a symbol of mourning similar to black armbands.
"Their purpose became clear when the alleged ring-in, who's since been identified as an illegal Chinese immigrant, motioned for Prostate players to advance and then removed his surgical mask and repeatedly coughed in close proximity to the opposing team."
A Royal Brisbane Hospital spokesperson said the three Prostate players admitted to the infectious diseases unit - Josh Angina, Craig Ulcer and Darryl Colon - were all in a critical condition.
Sir Llewellyn said a memorial service would be organised in Brisbane for anyone wanting to pay their respects to the 37 deceased Prostate players, game officials and spectators.
"I believe the Brisbane memorial service will be welcomed by local fans of the Prostates who are unable to attend the mass funeral in Perth on Friday," he said.
Bolts' coach, Jack Saunders, dismissed suggestions the infected ring-in was a deliberate ploy to kill Prostate players.
"It's just a bit of high-jinks - just some good natured horseplay," Saunders said
When contacted last night, Bolts general manager, Terry Verandah, said he had no comment to make on the incident.
However, he later rang The Bug newsroom and said he had changed his mind and would be issuing a comprehensive written statement.
"You can all go and get fucked," the single-line statement said.