NRL 2023: Dylan Brown ‘happy’ woman at the centre of sexual touching scandal went to police

Parramatta Eels star Dylan Brown has vowed to take a break from alcohol and praised the actions of the woman who made a complaint to police which led to him pleading guilty to two counts of sexual touching.

Dylan Brown has accepted his punishment from the NRL, but has been handed an extra fine by the Parramatta Eels. Picture: Adam Yip.

Parramatta star Dylan Brown fought back tears on Tuesday as he spoke about the embarrassment he had brought on his family and his relief that the woman at the centre of a sexual touching scandal had made a complaint about him to police.

Brown, who had already offered a public apology to the woman involved in the incident, reiterated his respect for women and vowed to take a break from alcohol as he spoke for the first time since pleading guilty to two counts of sexual touching in a Sydney court.

The young New Zealand star was suspended for seven games by the NRL and given a $40,000 fine — half of which was suspended — following the incident, which happened at a pub in Sydney’s eastern suburbs last month.

The Eels also hit Brown with a $20,000 fine, which will be donated to charity as they sent a message about the standards of behaviour and respect they expect from their players.

Brown was given a community corrections order by the courts after pleading guilty and there was a school of thought that he should have been suspended by the NRL for the remainder of the year.

Brown says he would have understood if that had happened.

“I was ready to take whatever,” Brown said.

“I told everyone I was willing to accept the penalty that came my way. I was apologetic and I still am. I think I made it clear … that I am not asking for forgiveness because like I said, my actions weren’t good enough

“I am trying to move on but it is hard, especially when you are not playing. When it is something you have done to yourself that is fine but when it involves someone else, especially a female, it is tough.

“I have a mum, I have a sister. That is why I got emotional. I think about those people and if something happened to them, I wouldn’t be happy.

“They support me. I have a lot of beautiful women in my family and around me.”

Dylan Brown will donate his fine to charity. Picture: Matt Blyth/Getty

Brown said he was glad the woman at the centre of the incident made a complaint.

“I am happy she went and complained because I shouldn’t be able to get away with things like that,” he said.

“It is a good kick up the arse for me. I have let myself down but that is something you can deal with internally. But when you are letting other people down, that is when it starts to affect you.”

The court head Brown had consumed 15 to 20 drinks on the night in question and as part of his sanctions from the Eels, he will undertake a comprehensive alcohol management plan.

Brown has also been ordered to speak to the club’s elite pathway players about his learnings and undertake ongoing professional counselling. He has personally committed to take a break from alcohol.

“Alcohol was the thing on the night,” he said.

“Not that I am making that as an excuse. I shouldn’t allow myself to get to that point. Keeping away from alcohol is a temporary thing for me.

“There is a plan there that the club is helping me with. They have been good to me and they understand that it is not a huge problem, It is allowing myself into that position where I make bad decisions.

“For now, for me, I have stopped drinking until I get back on the field and prove to myself that I deserve everyone’s acceptance.”

EELS OPT AGAINST FURTHER BROWN BAN

Parramatta five-eighth Dylan Brown has accepted his seven-match ban and fine from the NRL but is set to be slapped with an additional sanction by the Eels on Tuesday as the club looks to send a message about the behaviour and standards they expect of their players.

This masthead understands that Brown will be fined at least $20,000 by the Eels, having pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual touching in a Sydney court last week.

Brown had already been handed a long ban and a $40,000 fine – half of which was suspended – by the NRL after being charged by police following a boozy night out in Sydney’s eastern suburbs last month.

Dylan Brown has accepted his punishment from the NRL, but has been handed an extra fine by the Parramatta Eels. Picture: Adam Yip.

The Eels No.6 is due to return to the field in the run up to the finals but in the short term will be expected to undergo education as part of his rehabilitation.

Brown had five business days to respond to the NRL sanctions and it is understood the deadline passed on Monday afternoon, with the Kiwi international accepting the penalties from head office.

Brown is due to make his comeback for the Eels in their round 23 game against St George Illawarra, having already served three games on the sidelines when the NRL handed down their sanctions.

Brown is expected to make his NRL return in round 23 against the Dragons. Picture: Adam Yip.

Brown was initially charged with five counts of sexual touching by police after lawyer David Newham told court that hia client 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. Brown, was stood down under the game’s no fault stand down policy, still faced an integrity unit investigation which resulted in a further ban and fine.

The Eels have now weighed in with a fine of their own as they look to close the book on the matter and switch their focus to making the finals and challenging for a premiership.