NRL great Nathan Merritt hit with AVO application by police in court

Legendary South Sydney Rabbitohs player Nathan Merritt will face court after police applied to take out an apprehended violence order against him.

Rabbitohs legend Nathan Merritt will face court after police applied to take out an apprehended violence order against him to protect the mother of his children.

The 41-year-old, who scored 154 tries during 237 games in the NRL between 2002 and 2014, is due to appear in Downing Centre Local Court for a hearing on Wednesday.

Court records show NSW Police has applied for the AVO against Merritt on behalf of Faith Phillips, whom he shares multiple children with.

No criminal charges have been laid.

Merritt last made headlines in 2023 when he was temporarily put on life support following an apparent bad reaction to medication.

Eels player Josh Addo-Carr and former boxing champion Anthony Mundine were regular visitors to him in hospital.

Nathan Merritt played for the South Sydney Rabbitohs between 2002 and 2014,

As part of a provisional order already in place against Merritt, he must not approach Ms Phillips for at least 12 hours after drinking alcohol or taking illicit drugs.

Merritt, of Gledswood Hills, is also forbidden going to Ms Phillips’ residence or place of work.

The matter is yet to be heard before a magistrate.

In 2014, Merritt singled out Ms Phillips in his retirement announcement.

South Sydney's Nathan Merritt on the attack during NRL match South Sydney Rabbitohs v Canberra Raiders at ANZ Stadium. Picture: Phil Hillyard

Nathan Merritt chats with the media at the Crowne Plaza in Coogee after being selected to play for the NSW Blues.

“I absolutely love playing for South Sydney, it’s been a dream of mine since I was a little kid jumping the fence at Redfern Oval to watch guys like Mario Fenech and Craig Coleman run around,” he said at the time.

“I want to thank my wonderful wife Faith and my kids … my coaches and teammates right from my first game for the Alexandria Rovers to today at the Rabbitohs.”

Merritt, who played at wing and fullback in his long footy career, was the NRL’s top tryscorer for three seasons and he was also the 9th player in the history of the sport to score 150 total tries.

He had stints at both the Sharks and Rabbitohs.