More than a dozen rugby league players have been caught up in off-field incidents this year
More than a dozen players have been caught up in off-field incidents in 2018 in what was a horror year for the NRL. The Daily Telegraph has compiled a list of all the times players have attracted unwanted attention.
The arrest of Dragons forward Jack de Belin on sexual assault charges caps off a horrific year of alleged off-field player indiscretions for the NRL.
More than a dozen players have been arrested and charged with a wide array of incidents which include sexual assault, common assault and drink driving.
In the past fortnight, three players have been arrested by police with Zane Musgrove and Dylan Walker both investigated for separate incidents before de Belin’s arrest for aggravated sexual assault on Thursday night.
These are the players who have come under the spotlight in 2018 or are currently facing charges.
JA RRYD HAYNE
On November 19 Hayne was charged with aggravated sexual assault and inflicting actual bodily harm following an incident in Newcastle on grand final night. It has been alleged the former Parramatta star had sex with a 26-year old woman without her consent. Police also allege the woman was left bleeding due to bite wounds. Hayne entered a plea of not guilty and the matter will next be heard at Newcastle Local Court.
DYLAN WALKER
On December 6 Walker was arrested and charged at his northern beaches home after allegedly assaulting his fiance. The Manly centre was charged with common assault and assault occasioning actual bodily harm. Walker’s partner, Alexandra Ivkovic, has since expressed her intention to recant her statement but police will continue to pursue the charges. Walker has entered a plea of not guilty and the matter has been adjourned until December 18th.
ZANE MUSGROVE
In July Musgrove faced court on charges of common assault, common assault domestic violence related and intentionally or recklessly destroying/damaging property. He pleaded not guilty initially but in September pleaded guilty to damaging property while the other charges were withdrawn by prosecutors. Musgrove was fined $1100 and ordered to pay $500 to fix a gate that was damaged during an argument with his girlfriend. In an unrelated incident, Musgrove was then charged with assault with act of indecency, aggravated indecent assault (offender in company), and common assault following an incident at the Coogee Bay Hotel in November. He was granted conditional bail by police to appear in court in January.
LIAM COLEMAN
The son of South Sydney champion Craig Coleman was charged alongside Wests Tigers forward Zane Musgrove for allegedly indecently assaulting a 22-year woman at the Coogee Bay Hotel in November. Detectives charged Coleman with assault with an act of indecency, and aggravated indecent assault (offender in company). He was granted conditional bail to appear at Waverley Local Court on January 23.
JACK DE BELIN
Dragons and New South Wales backrower De Belin was charged with aggravated sexual assault in company on December 13 following allegations he and another man sexually assaulted a 19-year old woman after a night out in Wollongong.
SCOTT BOLTON
Bolton was arrested and charged in May for allegedly assaulting a woman during a night out in Bondi. The Cowboys veteran pleaded not guilty in September
MANASE FAINU
Manly rookie Fainu escaped a conviction after he pleaded guilty to filming a sex act without consent in September. The 19-year old was handed a good behaviour bond.
GREG INGLIS
Just hours after he was named Australian captain on October 2nd, Inglis was charged with speeding and drink driving after he was clocked at 99km/h in an 80 zone on the Great Wester Highway. He was stripped of the captaincy and banned for two matches by the NRL. Inglis pleaded guilty in December and will be sentenced in January.
JAEMAN SALMO N
Salmon was charged with low range drink driving following a car crash in October. The Parramatta Eels rookie hit three parked cars in Miranda before his vehicle rolled onto its roof, stopping southbound traffic. He will face court in January.
TONY WILLIAMS
The former Test and Origin forward was sacked by Parramatta in September after he recorded a second positive drugs test. No charges have been laid.
ADAM ELLIOTT AND ASIPELI FINE
The Bulldogs duo were charged with wilful and obscene exposure after they were photographed nude at Canterbury’s Mad Monday celebrations. They are both due to reappear in court next week.
JACK WIGHTON
The Raiders fullback was hit with nine charges following a brawl in Canberra in February. In June, Wighton pleaded guilty to six of the charges, including two charges of assault occasioning bodily harm, three counts of common assault and one charge of public urination. In November he was given a good-behaviour bond, a two-month suspended jail sentence and fined $3500.
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