Rugby league player Salasoo Soi pleads guilty to assaults occasioning bodily harm, drugs

A teenage Logan athlete, who was once on the brink of an NRL career, has narrowly avoided prison for an unprovoked king-hit on a neighbour.

Rugby league player Salasoo Soi pleads guilty for assaults occasioning bodily harm.

A teenage Logan athlete, who lost a three-year NRL contract, has narrowly dodged prison time after hospitalising a neighbour in an unprovoked coward punch.

Salasoo Soi, 18, pleaded guilty in Beenleigh Magistrates Court on January 15, 2023 to assaults occasioning bodily harm, possessing utensils or pipes etc for use and possessing dangerous drugs.

A Police Prosecutor said Soi was drinking at a Woodridge property at 7pm on April 13, 2023 and observed a neighbour at the front of his unit talking on the phone.

“Soi asked the man what he was doing and before he could answer he punched the victim in his head, knocking him unconscious,” the Sergeant said.

“He soon gained consciousness and was covered in blood … he was hospitalised with substantial injuries.

“He had four stitches on his head and has become scared to sleep at night, suffers painful migraines and feels he can no longer trust people,” she said.

The Sergeant said Soi was visited by police the following day, who discovered a “chop bowl”, containing cannabis, and a pipe.

The court heard Soi was a talented rugby league player who represented Souths Junior Magpies, while he attended Ipswich State High School, and secured a three-year professional NRL contract with a club after a scout saw him on the field.

Soi’s lawyer said his league dreams were coming true before there was an incident involving his coach allegedly attacking a man.

Salasoo Soi leaving Beenleigh Magistrates Court.

“Soi intervened, pushing his fellow team members and coach off of the victim and he had to testify against them during criminal proceedings … after this he was shut-out from his rugby community,” a lawyer said.

“This had drastic impacts on his career prospects as well as receiving a rhabdomyolysis diagnosis, where chemicals are released into the bloodstream from injuries and there is no cure.

“He was drinking at the time of the offending and believed the victim was trying to film his female friend,” she said.

The court heard Soi was now working as a removalist and his offending was “uncharacteristic”.

The Magistrate said photos of the victim showed a substantial black eye and Soi’s offending was on the higher end of the scale.

“The victim told the court he now suffers deep emotional depression and has suffered financially from the attack,” the Magistrate said.

“I take your early plea of guilty into consideration and note you are a young offender with a limited history,” he said.

Soi was sentenced to serve a suspended sentence of nine months and was released immediately, on the condition he commits no further offences for the next 18 months.

He was ordered to pay $2000 compensation to the victim.

Convictions were recorded.