Wests Tigers have shot down allegations of a toxic culture at the NRL club that came to the attention of the players' association last summer.
Three years after former player Mosese Fotuaiki committed suicide, News Corp Australia published on Sunday excerpts from a 2015 report produced by the Rugby League Players Assocation (RLPA).
The article quoted an unnamed player that alleged two more players considered taking their lives in 2015.
The joint merger club hit back on Sunday morning, describing the front-page article as "inaccurate" and "misleading", before threatening to sue.
"The Sunday Telegraph obtained a small portion of this confidential report and has decided to publish these unsubstantiated, and unconfirmed, claims," the Tigers said in a statement.
"The excerpts published by The Sunday Telegraph are a small portion of a much larger report undertaken by the RLPA, with these reports done on every NRL Club at the completion of each season, with both of these facts conveniently left out of the article.
"Due to the defamatory nature of The Sunday Telegraph's article Wests Tigers will be considering its legal options."
One unnamed player said the club failed to enhance player welfare following the death of Fotuaika 2013.
"Having already had a player take their own life a this club I am scared it will happened again," the player reportedly said in the report.
"This club hasn't learned anything from that ahppened with Moses. To be honest I think it has gotten worse. I know two players this year (2015) who have thought about suicide.
"The thought of it makes me sick."
The club on Friday announced the appointment of newly-retired player Dene Halatau as Culture and Leadership coordinator.
Readers seeking support and information about suicide prevention can contact Lifeline on 13 11 14.
Suicide Call Back Service 1300 659 467.
MensLine Australia 1300 78 99 78.
Multicultural Mental Health Australia www.mmha.org.au.
Local Aboriginal Medical Service available from www.vibe.com.au.
Share
