Tom Starling, Canberra Raiders: Riot squad and NRL star in huge melee

The mother of a rising NRL player has inadvertently sparked a 20-person melee involving capsicum spray and riot police at a Central Coast bar, after she failed to follow Covid regulations, a court has heard.

A massive brawl at a Central Coast bar involving an NRL star and his brothers, which ended up with their arrest and one of them copping multiple punches to the face, has been laid bare in shocking video footage revealed in court.

Canberra Raiders star Tom Starling, 23, was arrested alongside brothers Jackson, 25, and Josh, 20, for their alleged role in an altercation at the Shady Palms hotel on the Central Coast in December 2020.

In a video shown in court, taken from a recording from a police officer’s own mobile phone of hotel CCTV footage, the officer and hotel management could be heard audibly gasping as they watched the melee as a riot officer punches Tom multiple times in the face.

“Wow, woah,” one of those watching the CCTV footage on the hotel’s computer could be heard saying.

“They won’t want to see that footage,” another says. “(It was) necessary force,” responds another.

NRL player Tom Starling appearing at Downing Centre Court in Sydney. Picture: Dylan Coker

Tom Starling celebrates a try with teammate Jack Wighton earlier this year. Picture: Mark Nolan

The alleged brawl took place when the Starling trio were out with friends celebrating a 21st birthday.

On Monday, Tom fronted Downing Centre Local Court with his two brothers and a fourth man Jesse Byrne, who was also charged in relation to the incident.

Tom Starling posted this image to social media after the incident.

Tom Starling appeared at Downing alongside his two brothers. Picture: Dylan Coker

Tom and Jackson have each pleaded not guilty to the charge of resist or hinder police officer in the execution of duty, while Josh has pleaded not guilty to charges of resist or hinder police officer in the execution of duty, common assault and assault officer in execution of duty. Byrne has also pleaded not guilty to resist or hinder police officer in the execution of duty.

The head of security at Shady Palms, Karn Morrin, told the court he had told the Starling boys’ mother to sit down due to Covid regulations, which led to him being yelled at by Josh.

“He shouted ‘don’t f**king speak to my mum like that’ at me a couple of times,” he said.

A screen grab of footage from the alleged melee at Shady Palms. Picture: Seven News

CCTV footage then showed Josh pushing the guard backwards, instigating the events which led to the brawl involving police who were already at the venue for an unrelated incident.

Jodie Watson, the mother of the man whose birthday was being celebrated, broke down in tears when describing the chaos to the court.

“I saw Josh (Starling) thrown to the ground by police, he was treated pretty roughly,” she said. “He was bleeding and really distressed. I had no idea what was happening.”

Ms Watson said Byrne was also pushed to the ground, for reasons she didn’t know, on a patch with broken glass.

Shady Palms at Avoca on the Central Coast.

“He didn’t know what he’d done wrong,” she said. “The police seemed to keep pushing his head down and he was bleeding.

“I knelt down next to Byrne and the police told me if I didn’t move I’d be arrested.”

Ms Watson, who described “lots of capsicum spray” being used in the mayhem, could be seen on footage played in court kneeling next to Byrne.

Footage showed officers holding back Tom before one riot squad officer is seen punching him in the neck and head area a couple of times, as a 20-person melee ensued around them between security guards, riot police, the Starling brothers and other patrons.

The brothers’ lawyer Samar Singh-Panwar said the defence would ask whether police were executing their duty during the incident or not, and whether the Starlings were acting in self defence.

The hearing continues.