Matt Orford and car, in happier times.Raiders 'boofhead' vandalises Orford's car
Mike Oxwollen
May 5, 2011
Having already been buggered with a Steeden, hung by his jocks from the southern goal posts, and been the 'central participant' in a recent club bun, Matt Orford's rough initiation to Canberra has hit a new low, with a frustrated fan vandalising the star halfback's high-priced Audi.
Witnesses reported a semi naked person dressed only in a Raiders jersey attacked the former Dally M Medallist's car with a meat safe in the Canberra Stadium car park in an ugly aftermath to last Sunday's soul destroying and humiliating 49-12 loss to the Wests Tigers. The gender of the offender could not be ascertained.
Raiders' ball-boys, cheerleaders and the players' life partners and families, officials, pie sellers and the bloke who sells the programs were also subject to verbal abuse after the shellacking.
It was Canberra's seventh straight defeat and left the club pinned at the bottom of the NRL ladder gasping for air in a season that will see them lucky to win a school fete raffle.
Orford's vehicle - dirty lucre as it was included as part of a third-party deal - was parked in the section of the car park reserved for players.
Raiders chairman John McIntyre was absolutely appalled by the incident.
''I'm absolutely appalled by the incident,'' McIntyre said.
Orford was crying too hard to comment.
Raiders chief executive Don Furner told ABC Radio he was embarrassed to be a Canberran.
''I'm embarrassed to be a Canberran,'' Furner said, "but not for the usual reasons, this is a fresh coat of shame I have to wear."
‘‘I would hope that our fans wouldn’t go vandalising somebody’s car after a game, but they have. They are idiots. I blame Toddles’’
Furner continued. ‘‘It is gutless. Apart from the fact it’s not very brave, it is a crime to go around vandalising things.’’ reminding all that the outlawing of vandalisming was part of the massive overhaul of Canberra laws that included the banning of fireworks, the banning of the Melbourne Cup public holiday and the banning of the right to be intimate with an animal.
Raiders players were also heckled by their own families and coaching staff after they completed their pre-game warm-ups.
"It is conditioning for the treatment they will receive for the remainder of the season" coach 'Little Don' Furner said. "We go from verbal abuse to an hour of having bottles thrown at them. No point running drills, these blokes are hopeless!"
