Ratu Nanovo: Ex-Fiji league rep charged over Parramatta stabbing
A teenager and former Fiji rugby league representative who spent two days under police guard in hospital, has been charged with a triple stabbing which broke out a local footy game in Western Sydney.
NSW
Don't miss out on the headlines from NSW. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Former Fiji rugby league representative Ratu Nanovo has been charged with the horrific triple stabbing which followed a local game in Western Sydney on Sunday.
Nanovo has spent two days under police guard in Nepean Hospital having a laceration to his hand sutured. At 1pm today he was formally arrested and taken to Granville Police Station.
He was charged with three counts of wound person with intent to cause grievous bodily harm – one for each of the men he allegedly stabbed with a kitchen knife in the car park of Old Saleyards Reserve at North Parramatta.
He was refused bail at Parramatta Local Court today and the matter was adjourned until tomorrow.
Nanovo and 20-year-old Bradley Middlebrook had just played for the Penrith Brothers club in an under-20s game when they allegedly clashed with an opponent from the Wentworthville Magpies and two spectators in the car park.
A statement of police facts read out in court at Middlebrook’s bail application on Monday said: “It’s alleged the co-accused (Nanovo) retrieved a knife, concealed it down his pants, then yelled out to him (the victim) ‘come over here, I’ve got something for you’.
Middlebrook allegedly started punching one of the victims, a brawl erupted, and the co-accused allegedly pulled out the knife and stabbed the victims.”
Middlebrook, who was charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm while in company and affray, was refused bail and his case adjourned to October 8.
Police said the 19-year-old Magpies player was initially critical with puncture wounds to his neck and torso, however his condition improved after surgery and all three alleged victims were stable in Westmead Hospital.
Nanovo is a former Penrith Panthers Jersey Flegg player, was picked in the 2018 Australian schoolboys team and last year made the Fiji squad to play Lebanon.
The Panthers yesterday said in a club statement: “this individual is not contracted to the clubs and has had no involvement with the club since March this year”.
Originally published as Ratu Nanovo: Ex-Fiji league rep charged over Parramatta stabbing