How Milford, Kamikamica, Xerri and others could return to the NRL
Melbourne’s 2022 roster could be defined in the courtroom on Wednesday, with prop Tui Kamikamica to face court on an assault charge.
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Some are before the courts, one is in jail and another is waiting out his doping ban, David Riccio reveals the path back to rugby league for each.
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TUI KAMIKAMICA
The Storm face a nervous week ahead which could have a major bearing on their 2022 season roster.
Stood-down Melbourne prop Tui Kamikamica is scheduled to appear in court on Wednesday, February 9, to defend an assault charge.
Kamikamica was immediately stood down from playing under the NRL’s no-fault stand-down policy when he was charged by Police with assault occasioning bodily harm of a woman, 30, outside a Fortitude Valley venue on November 13 last year.
Kamikamica has since lodged his intention with the Brisbane Arrests Courts to plead not guilty to the charge.
Kamikamica is permitted to train with the Storm, but his playing future could be determined within days.
ANTHONY MILFORD
Milford has plenty to lose.
The Rabbitohs have already cut their lifeline for the former Broncos playmaker with the Knights showing interest for 2022.
Wayne Bennett then wants Milford at the Dolphins in 2023.
It’s all semantics with the NRL refusing to register any contract until after his court proceedings are complete.
Milford was charged with three counts of assault occasioning bodily harm and one count of wilful damage involving a vehicle after being arrested in Brisbane last September 20.
Two of the charges are alleged violence against women. His case is due for mention in court within the next fortnight.
Milford’s lawyer Dave Garrett has indicated his client intends to defend some of the charges, but hasn’t stated which ones.
TOM STARLING
Starling will start the season with police charges hanging over his head.
Police allege that Starling was with his brothers and a friend when they were refused entry to Mumbo Jumbo’s on the Central Coast due to number limits.
They further allege that the group became agitated and threatened the security manager a number of times before walking away.
Starling has been charged with hindering an officer of which he is pleading not guilty.
Separately, Starling and his brothers face charges over an alleged brawl at Shady Palms on December 5 2020.
Amidst the off-field issues and despite not yet being formally announced by the Raiders, Starling has re-signed with the club for another two years.
MANASE FAINU
Fainu is banned from playing under the NRL’s no-fault stand down policy as he waits for trial, set for July 2022, on multiple charges in an alleged stabbing in October 2019.
He has pleaded not guilty and has denied the allegations. Fainu’s trial had been delayed due to Covid disruptions to the court system in NSW.
The 22-year-old Manly hooker has not played since 2019. He must check in with police three times a week and be chaperoned by his parents between the hours of 9pm and 6am.
His younger brother, Latu, 17, has signed with Manly on a deal estimated to be worth $1 million over four years.
BRONSON XERRI
The 20-year-old Sharks centre was provisionally suspended last May under the NRL’s anti-doping policy after returning a positive A sample to performance enhancing steroids from a test on November 25, 2019.
Xerri also returned a positive B sample.
The rising star’s subsequent appeal proved fruitless and he was officially suspended by the NRL under the WADA code for four years by the NRL anti-doping tribunal.
Xerri is unable to return to the NRL – or any sport under the WADA code – until November 25, 2023.
Xerri will be 23 when his suspension is lifted, which is why some NRL clubs have already begun couching the idea of offering him a lifeline.
JARRYD HAYNE
The former two-time Dally M medal winner could be just days away from learning his fate, which sits with the Court of Criminal Appeal.
In an attempt to overturn his sexual assault convictions, of which he continues to maintain his innocence, Hayne appeared via Zoom link before an appeals panel of Supreme Court judges including Chief Justice Tom Bathurst and Justices Helen Wilson and Ian Harrison last November.
Hayne appointed leading NSW lawyer Tim Game SC to fight for his freedom, who argued for a third trial or acquittal of Hayne after claiming his trial jury was given “profoundly wrong” legal directions.
The three-person panel of judges have reserved their judgment for the past two months.
Hayne has served nine months of a non-parole period of three years and eight months at Cooma Correctional Centre.
BLAKE FERGUSON
“Miss these 2.”
Posting a picture of his girlfriend Dominique Moraitis and daughter Luna, Ferguson has given an insight into the emotional toll of being locked-up in a Japanese prison.
Ferguson took to Instagram on Tuesday for the first time since being arrested and put behind bars.
Ferguson, 31, has had his contract with Japanese rugby club NEC Rockets torn-up after he was arrested for allegedly being found in possession of cocaine in Roppongi on December 30.
It’s alleged Ferguson, who had ambitions of one day playing for the Wallabies, punched a patron at a restaurant in the red light district of Tokyo and police officers found cocaine on the former Eels, Roosters, Raiders and Sharks winger.
Drug possession charges in Japan can carry prison sentences of up to five years in Japan.
Ferguson’s management are desperately working with lawyers to return the former Test winger to Australia.
At this stage, the NRL have failed to field a contract request for Ferguson, should he be allowed back to Sydney.
TRISTAN SAILOR
An ex-Dragons player, Sailor is headed to trial to defend allegations he sexually assaulted a woman following a night of drinking in 2020.
Sailor, 23, is pleading not guilty to two counts of aggravated sexual assault – inflicting actual bodily harm – of a then 24-year-old woman.
Sailor is no longer contracted to the Dragons, who released the aspiring footballer after the NRL imposed their ‘No fault stand down policy’ after he was arrested in October, 2020.
Judge Dina Yehia set down the trial to begin in late February, however a Call Over – short court appearance – is listed for February 24 at the Sydney Downing Centre.
LEAGUE OUTCAST SEEKS NSWRL RETURN
Curtis Scott is in discussions to play park football with the Camden Rams in a bid to reignite his NRL career.
Just four years after winning a premiership in front of almost 80,000 fans with the Melbourne Storm, Scott has met with senior management of the western Sydney rugby league club.
Members of the Rams hierarchy who met with Scott felt he was genuine in wanting to play for the club and to prove that he’s willing to start again to revive his NRL career.
“Verbally we’ve agreed with Curtis to play with us and we’d love to him have here,’’ Rams club president Greg Copeland said.
“But we’ve just got to tick a few boxes still and hopefully we can work towards signing off on his registration next week.’’
Asked what the Rams were willing to pay Scott, Copeland replied: “Hardly nothing, it’s not about that for Curtis.
“He just wants to play for a strong club that can help him with his football career.’’
Scott’s first game for the junior club of Roosters champion James Tedesco would likely be in first grade when the Macarthur Group competition begins in April.
Following a four-year stint with Storm that included the 2017 premiership, Scott was signed by the Raiders in 2020 where he played 23-games before having his contract terminated after a nightclub incident last August.
The 24-year-old centre had been preparing to join the Parramatta Eels on a base wage contract for the upcoming 2022 season.
However, that deal fell over after he was charged with a string of historic domestic violence charges in January.
Scott’s matter was mentioned in court last week with the 24-year-old indicating that he will defend all charges.
The case has been adjourned until August, leaving Scott with few choices as far as playing rugby league in 2022 is concerned.
The NRL are unwilling to register him an NRL contract due to the nature of the charges, leading Scott to the prospect of running out with the Rams this year on Sunday afternoons at Kirkham Oval.
The NRL have no power to block the move.
Instead, it’s the NSWRL board who can decide whether to accept Scott’s Rams registration.
NSWRL chief executive Dave Trodden told The Sunday Telegraph that they had yet to receive any paperwork from the Rams and additionally every registration would be assessed on a case-by-case basis.
Scott, a centre, has scored 21-tries in 71-NRL matches since making his debut in 2016.
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