Immanuel Tagaloamatua: Penrith Panthers Jersey Flegg centre avoids jail over punch
A rising footy star and former Penrith Panther has learned his fate after a shocking punch that left a man with a fractured skull and bleeding on the brain.
Newcastle
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A rugby league rising star has avoided a jail sentence after leaving a man with serious injuries from a heavy punch.
Immanuel Tagaloamatua, who played Jersey Flegg for the Penrith Panthers last season, punched Logan Andrews, leaving him with a fractured skull, bleeding on the brain, and a broken jaw in Newcastle West in May last year.
Appearing before Newcastle Local Court today, magistrate Janine Lacy sentenced Tagaloamatua to an 18-month Intensive Corrections Order and was handed 200 hours of community service as well as a $1000 fine.
“It was totally unacceptable behaviour,” Lacy said when referring to the incident.
“Clearly it was a shocking and traumatic experience for (Andrews).”
The altercation occurred on a bye weekend and was caught on CCTV, showing a verbal exchange before Tagaloamatua threw a punch at the Raymond Terrace man at the southwestern intersection of King and Steel street.
Tagaloamatua — who played Jersey Flegg for the Penrith Panthers in 2021 — and the victim had both been at a nearby hotel on the night of the assault but had left and were outside McDonald’s when they crossed paths.
Tagaloamatua and his friend walked past the victim, who was sitting on the kerb trying to organise a lift home and headed towards Marketown.
A minute or so later Andrews stood up and followed Tagaloamatua and his friend before the men were involved in a “verbal exchange”.
Tagaloamatua and his friend walked away but turned around and were on the corner of King Street and Steel Street when they became involved in another “verbal exchange” with the victim before the physical attack took place.
Logan Andrews didn’t go to the hospital, but woke up the next day with severe headaches and was taken to the Mater Hospital, where it was revealed he had bleeding on the brain.
Andrews was later transferred to the neurosurgical ward at John Hunter Hospital and was discharged a week later.
In November last year, Tagaloamatua pleaded guilty to a charge of reckless grievous bodily harm after the DPP agreed to withdraw the more serious charge of causing grievous bodily harm with intent.
A rising star in the NRL, Tagaloamatua last played Jersey Flegg for the Panthers on May 22, eight days after the assault.
It’s believed Penrith severed ties with the centre when notified of the police investigation into the assault.
Outside court, Tagaloamatua apologised to Mr Andrews — who told Newcastle News he was just glad he could move on from the incident.
“He said sorry. We hugged. He even had a tear in his eye,” said Mr Andrews. “As long as he learns from it, that’s all that matters.”
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