Brett Kenny arrested: Eels legend charged by police with assault

Parramatta Eels legend Brett Kenny has been charged by police after allegedly headbutting a man known to him on the NSW Central Coast.

Brett Kenny (C) was arrested and charged with common assault. Picture: David Swift

Rugby league legend Brett Kenny has been charged with assault.

Kenny, 62, was arrested by police on the NSW Central Coast after allegedly headbutting a man.

Police allege that Kenny was at the Police and Community Youth Club on The Entrance Road at Bateau Bay about 6.15pm on Tuesday, April 12, when he approached Scott McGonigal and a 48-year-old woman.

Kenny and McGonigal are known to each other.

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

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Both parties then allegedly went their separate ways.

In a statement, NSW Police said McGonigal attended The Entrance Police Station a short time later and reported the incident.

“Officers from Tuggerah Lakes Police District then attended a home in Shelly Beach where they spoke to and arrested the 62-year-old man,” a NSW Police spokesman said.
“He was taken to Wyong Police Station and charged with common assault - domestic violence related.”

Brett Kenny (C) was arrested and charged with common assault. Picture: David Swift

Kenny was granted police bail and appeared at Wyong Local Court on Thursday, with the matter next due back before the same court on May 5.

The Daily Telegraph contacted Kenny on Sunday but he declined to comment under instructions from his solicitor.

Kenny would not reveal his plea.

In June last year, Kenny consented to an apprehended violence order taken out against him by police on behalf of his then estranged wife Suzanne.

Kenny is regarded as one of the greatest players in rugby league history.

A dazzling five-eighth with amazing skill, Kenny won premierships with Parramatta in 1981, 1982, 1983 and 1986.

Brett Kenny leaving Wyong Local Court after consenting to an AVO without admissions taken out by his ex-wife Suzanne Kenny. Picture: NewsLocal

He scored two tries in three successive grand finals, a feat never previously achieved.

Kenny played 17 Tests for Australia and presented NSW in 17 State of Origin games, most opposing the great Wally Lewis.

In the 12 Origin games he opposed Lewis, Kenny held an 8-4 match advantage.

A Facebook page calling for Kenny to become the next Immortal has pulled 1500 likes.

He was named as one of Australia’s 100 greatest NRL players in 2008 and also inducted into the NSW Rugby League Hall of Fame.

Kenny was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma cancer in his stomach.