The owner of a Dunedin student flat where an English rugby league star ran through and destroyed a door for a party trick has today has blasted the player as a "bloody idiot".
"It's a shame it wasn't a good old Kauri door," landlord Murray Haig said this morning as maintenance men from neighbouring Mercure Dunedin Leisure Lodge, where the English rugby league team have been staying, repaired the damaged door.
Hooker Josh Hodgson faces disciplinary action after being filmed running into and crashing through the closed internal door of the year-old Duke St property.
It occurred early on Sunday at a party attended by some English players after being knocked out of the 2014 Four Nations tournament by New Zealand on Saturday night.
In the video, which has gone viral, partygoers can be heard chanting, "Go through the door", just before the player smashes through it.
After the stunt, Hodgson emerges grinning to cheers from the group.
English winger Josh Charnley could also be seen in one of the videos.
Hodgson and a few teammates were at the party, having been invited into the flat - opposite the hotel in which the English team were staying - by celebrating students.
The players are understood to have arrived at the party about 4am, after a few hours in town, and left after 8am.
Mr Haig said his tenants are "a bit embarrassed and apologetic" but he has no issue with them.
They have liaised with the English team for the repairs to be done by Mercure staff, with the bill picked up by the visitors.
Mr Haig estimated a $400-500 repair bill and as long as it's repaired to a reasonable standard, he's happy to let the matter lie.
However, he criticised the English player's behaviour and called the team "hypocritical" after they had earlier in the week claimed they had to leave Wingatui races in Dunedin because of drunken students.
"We were all sober so it was a bit of an eye-opener. We didn't stay too long when we realised what it was like," replacement hooker Daryl Clark told the English tabloid newspaper Daily Star.
Mr Haig, who owns several rental flats in the city, said that was a bit rich considering what happened in his flat over the weekend.
"Just a bloody idiot," he said of Hodgson.
"And a bit hypocritical to be honest. Here they are criticising young people just having a good time in a controlled environment, the Wingatui Races, and then they turn around and let themselves go like this.
"Here they are, supposed professional adults setting an example, and they smash a door... I don't even have students doing that."
Students who rent his properties are typically responsible tenants, he said, saying that scarfies generally "get a bad rap".
Mr Haig was disappointed that English Rugby League hadn't been in touch with him.
England manager Jon Roberts said he was aware of the incident.
"It is being dealt with internally with the person involved and they will be disciplined."
The players had been given permission to go out after Saturday's game, he said.
"On behalf of England Rugby League, we apologise for the behaviour and have arranged for the repair of the small amount of damage.
"We have had a great time in Dunedin and the city has made us welcome. [Saturday's] match was a great spectacle for international rugby league and we look forward to returning to the city in the future," Mr Roberts said.
A Four Nations spokesman said the tournament had been a success.
"The incident in Dunedin is thus disappointing. We have been in contact with English officials, who are dealing with the matter."
Dunedin police had not received complaints about the incident.
- additional reporting: Otago Daily Times
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