Brett Kenny headbutt: Eels great escapes conviction for DV assault against Scott McMonigal

A lifetime of good behaviour has played into the result of former NRL and Parramatta Eels star Brett Kenny after headbutting a man at a Central Coast PCYC.

Former duel NSW Origin and Kangaroos five-eighth Brett Edward Kenny faced Wyong Local Court on Thursday after pleading guilty to one count of common assault.

The 61-year-old from Shelly Beach on the NSW Central Coast headbutted Scott McMonigal at Bateau Bay between 6.15pm and 6.30pm on April 12.

The court heard Kenny was at the Police and Community Youth Club (PCYC) on The Entrance Rd when he approached Mr McMonigal and a 48-year-old woman.

Kenny and Mr McMonigal were known to each other.

The former rugby league star headbutted Mr McMonigal to the forehead, before a verbal altercation occurred.

Former NRL and Parramatta Eels star Brett Kenny leaving Wyong Local Court. Picture: NewsLocal

Both parties then allegedly went their separate ways before Mr McMonigal attended The Entrance Police Station and reported the incident.

Tuggerah Lakes Police then attended Kenny’s Shelly Beach home where he was arrested and taken to Wyong Police Station and charged with domestic violence related common assault.

Magistrate Elizabeth Ellis said “a lifetime of good behaviour” means she will not record a conviction against Kenny’s name.

“Your good behaviour for so long has earned you the right for me to give you a caution, if you like,” Magistrate Ellis said.

Kenny escaped a conviction due to “a lifetime of good behaviour”. Picture: NewsLocal

“You can honestly say you’ve not been convicted of any offence.”

Magistrate Ellis told Kenny to “keep his promise” to be of good behaviour and he won’t need to come back to court for 12 months.

An apprehended violence order will also remain in place for 12 months.

Magistrate Ellis asked Kenny that while it was completely off topic “can you please organise another win for us as I am a Parramatta tragic”.

Kenny is a strong contender to become the next Immortal. Picture: Jeremy Piper

An agreed set of police facts states Kenny had been in a relationship with a woman who worked at the PCYC and the pair “remained friends” after separating.

The facts state the woman had since formed a relationship with Mr McMonigal.

Kenny had been at the PCYC earlier in the day playing basketball before speaking to the woman “who was upset”.

The facts state Kenny returned to the PCYC about 5.30pm where he saw the woman who remained upset and informed him of issues in her current relationship.

Kenny was heading upstairs when he saw Mr McMonigal talking to the woman.

“The accused walked up to the victim and said `Get out of my way’, then came back to the victim face to face (a distance of only 2 to 3cms apart) and said `If I hear you lay a hand on her I’ll make sure you don’t do it again’,” the facts state.

“The accused then lent forward and put his forehead on the forehead of the victim pushing his forehead into the victim’s forehead.”

Former Parramatta Eels great Brett Kenny (left) leaving Wyong Local Court with his barrister Peter Kondich (right) where the ex-league player escaped a conviction for common assault. Picture: NewsLocal

There is no suggestion Mr McMonigal did anything to the woman or anything to provoke Kenny.

The woman asked Kenny to leave before calling police.

Mr McMonigal attended The Entrance Police Station where he expressed fears for his safety and “also mentioned the accused’s behavior towards him has been ongoing for some time and believed he is capable of committing further offences”.

Kenny was later arrested but declined to be interviewed.

The former Eels legend and NRL Hall of Fame inductee is a strong contender to become the next Immortal.

Kenny’s court appearance comes after he consented, without admissions, to an apprehended violence order taken out against him by police on behalf of his estranged wife Suzanne in June last year.

Regarded as one of the best players of all time, Kenny won premierships with Parramatta in 1981, 1982, 1983 and 1986.