Cronulla Sharks star Braydon Trindall fronts court for driving while disqualified

A Cronulla Sharks playmaker fresh off scoring two tries and helping his side win a clutch match against the Rabbitohs has learnt his fate after being caught driving while suspended.

Cronulla Sharks five-eighth Braydon Trindall appeared at Sutherland Local Court after he pleaded guilty to driving while disqualified. Picture: Ashleigh Tullis

A Cronulla Sharks star - who scored two tries in his side’s triumph against the Rabbitohs on Saturday - has swapped his jersey for a suit to front court for the first time.

Braydon Kenneth Trindall, 24, was sentenced in Sutherland Local Court on Tuesday after he pleaded guilty to driving while disqualified.

The court heard the playmaker was stopped for a random breath test when driving his ute along the Kingsway on June 14 about 6.20pm.

Trindall, who lives in Caringbah, had a negative result but a police check of his licence showed it was suspended from October 12, last year, to February 17, this year, due to an excess of demerit points.

There was a note made on February 18 indicating Trindall’s suspension was extended until he passed the traffic offender penalty knowledge test.

Braydon Trindall of the Sharks crosses for a try during the round 23 NRL match between South Sydney Rabbitohs and Cronulla Sharks at Optus Stadium on August 05, 2023 in Perth, Australia. Picture: Paul Kane/Getty Images

Police asked Trindall to produce his digital drivers licence and it immediately showed his licence was suspended.

Trindall told officers he was aware of the original suspension but did not realise it had been extended.

Cronulla Sharks five-eighth Braydon Trindall appeared at Sutherland Local Court on Tuesday. Picture: Ashleigh Tullis

“Police accept that this lack of knowledge may be honest,” documents tendered in court state.

“But it is not reasonable in that any person would expect an extension of a previously imposed sanction or new sanction being imposed with the knowledge that they had lost so many points in such a short time.”

The documents also note Trindall would have been sent information about the extension and he could have viewed his digital licence at any time.

The court heard Trindall was further suspended on August 4 and will not be eligible to drive again until January.

Sharks player Braydon Trindall of the Sharks in action during the round three NRL match with Canberra Raiders. Picture: Mark Nolan/Getty Images

Trindall has no prior criminal record but has a poor traffic record and has now completed the knowledge test.

Magistrate Philip Stewart asked the Sharks player how he “could possibly get that many camera detected matters” on his driving history.

“I’m not too sure,” Trindall responded.

Magistrate Stewart warned Trindall to be more careful and to look out for the warning signs displayed before cameras because otherwise it would continue to impact his ability to drive.

Trindall – who was supported in court by the Sharks’ wellbeing and education officer Jeff Robson – was not convicted and sentenced to a conditional release order where he must be of good behaviour and commit no other offences for six months, otherwise he could be re-sentenced.