Byron Parnell: South Sydney Rugby League new starter charged with drink driving with cocaine in system.

A rookie Rabbitohs player was charged with drink driving following a binge beer drinking session at a popular eastern suburbs pub. Find out what happened in court:

An up-and-coming Rabbitohs player was stood down from his contract after the club learned of his arrest following a beer binge session at the Bay Hotel in Maroubra that saw him consume half a dozen schooners in an hour.

Byron Parnell, 20, was charged with driving with mid-range PCA and illicit drug at Waverley Local Court on Wednesday July 20.

The rookie league player pleaded guilty to driving with mid-range PCA and illicit drug as he appeared with his lawyer at court on Wednesday.

Documents tendered to court state Parnell was stopped by police for a random breath test while driving his Holden Colorado bearing Queensland registration along Rainbow St in Coogee.

Police discovered an adult male passenger in the car, and noted conditions on the road were wet at the time.

Police asked the footballer to show his licence, and when he did so they could smell intoxicating liquor coming from within the car.

Byron Parnell with his solicitor outside Waverley Local Court. Photo: Bianca Healey.

Parnell was submitted to a roadside breath test which returned a positive result, the facts state. Police arrested him and Parnell was taken to a nearby police station.

There, police administered an oral fluid test which also returned a positive test to cocaine.

Parnell told police he had drunk five to six schooners of beer “at the Bay Hotel”, the facts state, with his first drink at around 6.30pm and his last at around 7.45pm that night. He said he had some hot chips at around 7pm.

Breath analysis from Parnell returned a positive reading of 0.091g of alcohol in 210L of breath.

When asked, Parnell told police he took the drugs an hour before his arrest “at Maroubra Bay” and answered the question of how often he used drugs with the response “not really”.

Parnell has been playing in lower grades since March. Image: Instagram.

Police are of the opinion Parnell was moderately affected due to liquor and noted he was cooperative with police, according to court documents.

The rookie player grew up in Queensland where he competed with the Parkwood Sharks Rugby League Club, before moving interstate to attend Waverley College and join NSW Rugby League.

Parnell appeared at Waverley Local Court to plead guilty. Image: Instagram.

The up-and-coming player debuted with the South Sydney Rabbitohs Under 20 grade in March of this year and has clocked six game appearances in the 2022 season.

A Rabbitohs spokesperson told the Wentworth Courier Parnell had not been on an NRL contract with the Club, but had been on a part-time NSWRL contract to play in the club’s lower grades.

“Upon learning of this situation with Byron Parnell, the Club has stood him down from all duties associated with his part-time, NSWRL contract,” the spokesperson said. “The Club has also commenced disciplinary proceedings as per the NSWRL guidelines.”

The case has been adjourned for merit, meaning Parnell may undertake drug and alcohol programs to mitigate his sentence, and is set to return to court on August 10.