Rugby union player Sakaraia Tiko pleads guilty to obstructing police on Ocean St

A Sunshine Coast landscaper and rugby player has broken two tackles from police during his line break at a night-life precinct after he was given directions to leave the area.

Sakaraia Sau Tiko leaving Maroochydore Magistrates Court this week. Picture: Sam Turner

A Fijian rugby player has been heavily fined following an “Ocean St classic” where he drunkenly tried to run from police after being told to leave the busy party precinct.

Sakaraia Sau Tiko, 29, showed his physical prowess in Maroochydore on June 8 where he broke two tackles from officers before he was taken down and arrested.

Police prosecutor Tara Miles told Maroochydore Magistrates Court this week that security guards approached patrolling police on Ocean St about 11pm that night to talk about Tiko who was highly intoxicated.

Senior Constable Miles said security told officers the Moffat Beach resident was trying to start fights with other punters and had been refused entry to a nightclub.

The court heard Tiko was given a move on direction by police to leave the Maroochydore Safe Night Precinct and was warned he’d be committing an offence if he returned.

A short time later they found the 29-year-old hanging outside one of the clubs and gave him a further warning to leave.

Senior Constable Miles said 10 minutes later he was found again on Ocean St where he was arrested.

As officers grabbed an arm each to march Tiko towards their van, they both loosened their grip to open one of the vehicle’s doors.

Sakaraia Sau Tiko leaving court this week. Picture: Sam Turner

This proved to be a costly mistake as the rugby player threw one of the officer’s to the ground to try and flee.

In scenes similar to the Fijian national rugby team’s efforts at the 2023 Rugby World Cup, where they went down to France in the quarter-finals, Tiko was able to brush a second tackle. Senior Constable Miles said he pushed a second officer to the ground after his initial line break.

The police prosecutor said a third officer who was standing behind Tiko was then able to grab the 29-year-old.

Tiko continued to fight and obstruct police to escape their custody however the court heard officers regained control and handcuffed him. He was then placed in the vehicle and taken to the watch-house.

Defence lawyer Michael Robinson said the 29-year-old did not remember the offences or the night until he woke up in the watch house some time later.

Mr Robinson said Tiko had been in Australia for the past 14 months on a working visa as a Fijian national and was employed as a landscaper.

The solicitor said he was also playing rugby union for “Brothers Football Club” which sponsored his home in the Caloundra area.

He said Tiko broke his leg playing footy, with the club also assisting him during that time.

Magistrate Haydn Stjernqvist labelled Tiko’s drunken escapade as an “Ocean St classic” after the 29-year-old pleaded guilty obstructing police and contravening a direction.

He was fined $600, with no conviction recorded.

The 29-year-old was also ordered to perform 40 hours’ community service.