Dylan Brown faces further NRL sanctions after pleading guilty to sexual touching

In a huge blow for Parramatta’s premiership push, Dylan Brown is facing a further ban from the NRL after pleading guilty to two counts of sexual touching.

Parramatta NRL player Dylan Brown leaves Downing Centre Court. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Jeremy Piper

Parramatta star Dylan Brown is facing further sanctions from the NRL including a heavy fine and more time on the sidelines after pleading guilty to two counts of sexual touching in a Sydney court on Wednesday.

Brown was sentenced to a community correction order for 18 months after appearing in Sydney’s Downing Centre Local Court and is no longer subject to the NRL’s no-fault stand down rule because the matter has run its course through the courts.

However, he still faces an integrity unit investigation and the likelihood is that he will be forced to watch on for some weeks yet – he has already missed three games for the Eels – as the NRL mull over further sanctions for the 23-year-old.

Brown was charged with five counts of sexual touching following an incident at the Golden Sheaf hotel in Sydney’s eastern suburbs last month.

His lawyer David Newham told the court that Brown had consumed between 15 to 20 drinks over a six-hour period on the night of the incident.

After Brown pleaded guilty to two charges, the court dropped three others. However, the matter is far from over as far as the NRL is concerned as the integrity unit prepares to complete their own investigation into the incident.

Parramatta NRL player Dylan Brown leaves Downing Centre Court. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Jeremy Piper

Brown unreservedly apologised for his actions in a statement released through the club on Wednesday, insisting he took full responsibility for his behaviour.

Regardless of his pubic mea culpa, Brown is likely to miss more matches and face a monetary sanction given the dim view the game takes of poor off-field behaviour.

“Firstly, I want to unreservedly apologise to the person involved and the impact it has had on them,” Brown said in a statement.

“I am not proud of the behaviour I displayed, and I take full responsibility for my actions. Additionally, I want to apologise to everyone connected to the club for the negative impact that this incident has caused, and I am committed to learning from this experience.”

Parramatta chief executive Jim Sarantinos added: “Our club has a strong commitment to respectful behaviour towards women, and the behaviour that was outlined in court today is unacceptable and against the expectations we have at our club.

“Dylan has taken full responsibility for his actions and has acknowledged the impact this has had on the person involved, for which he is genuinely remorseful.

“The club will continue to support Dylan and work with him as he learns from this experience. We will now work with the NRL Integrity unit on the next steps in finalising the matter.”

NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo used his discretionary powers to stand down Brown last month — under the game’s no-fault stand-down rule, only charges carrying prison sentences of 11 years or more qualify for the automatic stand down.

Parramatta NRL player Dylan Brown has been banned indefinitely. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Jeremy Piper

As part of the NRL investigation into the matter, the integrity unit is expected to review court documents and evidence before deciding on a final sanction for Brown.

The Eels will be nervously awaiting the outcome as the club attempts to keep in finals contention over coming weeks, starting with Saturday week’s home clash with the in-form New Zealand Warriors.

Brown was one of the club’s best players before falling foul of the law, although the club has won all three games in his absence as Daejarn Asi and Ryan Matterson have stepped into the halves and capably filled the void.

Asi and Matterson may have to continue in the role as Brown faces more time on the sidelines in coming weeks and the Eels will have their fingers crossed that their star No.6 is back on the field at some point to help them in the run into the finals.

“The National Rugby League (NRL) has today confirmed that the no-fault stand down condition will no longer apply to Parramatta Eels player Dylan Brown, following the finalisation of criminal proceedings against Brown at Downing Centre Local Court today,” the NRL said in a statement. “With the criminal proceedings concluded, the NRL integrity unit will now conduct an immediate review of the matter.”