NRL star Dylan Brown trains with Parramatta Eels after being charged with sexual touching
Parramatta Eels star Dylan Brown was all smiles at training after being charged with sexual touching over the weekend, with the NRL Integrity Unit yet to rule on whether he will be stood down.
NSW
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Parramatta Eels star Dylan Brown was all smiles as he was spotted for the first time since being charged with five counts of sexual touching over the weekend.
Brown, 22, fronted up to the NRL squad’s Monday morning training at Kellyville, just 24 hours after leaving Waverley Police Station on bail.
Police allege the rugby league five-eigth groped a 20-year-old woman several times at The Golden Sheaf in Double Bay on Saturday night, where he had been out with friends with Parramatta on a bye.
CCTV which captured the pair’s interaction is set to form part of the police evidence.
Brown participated in the session at Eels HQ from 10am on Monday morning, appearing unfazed as he smiled while kicking, running and mucking around with teammates.
The New Zealand footballer is yet to check into Rosebay Police Station, where he is required to present on Monday, Wednesday and Friday as part of his bail conditions.
The NRL Integrity Unit said they were aware of the matter and will now wait to be provided with a statement of facts by NSW Police before deciding whether to suspend Brown under the “discretionary no-fault stand down policy”.
Video taken inside the venue showed Brown, wearing a hat and sunglasses, dancing on the dancefloor.
The club issued a statement on Sunday morning saying they would be liaising with the NRL about the alleged incident.
“The Parramatta Eels have been made aware of an incident involving Dylan Brown last night,” the statement read.
“The club has advised the NRL integrity unit as per our normal process.
“As it is a police matter, the club will not be making further comment at this time.”
There was no rush from NRL HQ to make a call on Brown’s immediate playing future because Parramatta does not play until next Monday when they take on the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs in the King’s Birthday clash.
The offence of sexual touching carries a maximum penalty of five years imprisonment in NSW.
Brown is charged with five separate offences of sexual touching, but if convicted the sentence for each would be served concurrently – not cumulatively.
But he could still be stood down under the “discretionary” aspect of the policy, which allows the NRL to make a call on players involved in both alleged offences with women and relating to domestic violence.
North Queensland Cowboys’ Luciano Leilua was last year stood down after being charged with domestic violence offences, before they were later dropped by NSW Police.
In a statement, an NRL spokesperson said: “The NRL Integrity Unit is aware of the matter and is liaising with the Parramatta Eels and NSW Police.”
The allegations against Brown will rock Parramatta and the club’s premiership quest, with the five-eighth becoming one of the Eels’ star players in recent seasons and playing a major role in their run towards last years’ grand final against Penrith.
NSW Police said in a statement that Brown would face Downing Centre Local Court on Wednesday.
“About 11.40pm yesterday officers attached to Eastern Suburbs PAC were called to a hotel on New South Head Rd at Double Bay following a report of sexual touching,” the statement read.
“Police arrested a 22-year-old man and he was taken to Waverley Police Station where he has been charged with sexually touch another person without consent.
“He was granted bail to appear before Downing Centre Local Court on Wednesday, June 7.”
In addition to the five charges an interim apprehended violence order (AVO) was also taken out by police.
Under the conditions of his bail, Brown must report to police once daily between 8am and 10pm on Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
Auckland-born Brown has become one of the NRL’s elite players over the past two years.
He has posted a remarkable 16 try assists this season, equal second in the NRL behind South Sydney’s Cody Walker (19).
Brown has played 95 games for Parramatta since debuting back in March, 2019.
In a stellar 2023 season, he has logged 11 line break assists and 44 one-on-one tackles.
In December last year, Brown signed a new deal with Parramatta which ends after 2025.
Brown represented New Zealand at last year’s World Cup in England.
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