Ex-NRL star Shayne Dunley sentenced for common assault, intimidation, hinder police

A former Manly Sea Eagles player’s ‘grief and anger’ has been laid bare in court after he was kicked out of a pub and threatened to kill a staff member during a night of drinking.

Shayne Dunley leaves Sutherland Local Court on Thursday 19 September. Picture: Elizabeth Pike

A former Manly Sea Eagles player’s “grief and anger” has been laid bare in court after he was kicked out of a pub and threatened to kill a staff member following a night of drinking.

Shayne Dunley’s past was recounted in painful detail as he was sentenced in Sutherland Local Court last Friday after pleading guilty to common assault, intimidation, and hindering police.

The court heard the 48-year-old was arrested when he threatened a staff member and assaulted another at the Club Central Menai in southwest Sydney on March 10.

Dunley had gone out for a meal when he ran into a friend of his late brother and fellow rugby league player Wayde Dunley, who died in a tragic rock fishing accident in 2017.

Both brothers were well-known on the rugby league scene with Shayne making his NRL debut in 1998 for the Balmain Tigers and playing as a halfback and hooker before retiring with the Manly Sea Eagles in 2007. Wayde followed in his footsteps as a club stalwart of the East Campbelltown Eagles until his death aged 28.

Shayne Dunley pleaded guilty to all three charges. Picture: Elizabeth Pike

Last Thursday, the court heard Dunley became “extremely emotional and angry” at the pub.

Court documents state Dunley tried to start a fight with a security guard on the way out before he charged towards a staff member and said, “I’ll f--king kill you c--t. I’ll cave your head in. I’ll stab you and kill your whole family. You’re a dead man walking”.

Dunley was told to leave again and said, “alright bring out your biggest bloke and I’ll go them, I’ll go anyone”.

According to court documents, Dunley turned to another member of staff and headbutted them before yelling, “do you want some?”

Shayne Dunley played 70 games for the Manly Sea Eagles between 2004 and 2007. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

Court documents state Dunley and a co-accused were pulled over by police shortly after leaving the pub.

The pair allegedly admitted to swapping seats when they were stopped so Dunley would appear to be the passenger.

They were arrested and taken to Sutherland Police station, where Dunley blew a reading of 0.158 – more than three times the limit.

In court last Thursday, Dunley’s lawyer Wayne Pasterfield spoke about the death of his client’s brother and how “ever since then (Dunley) has harboured this grief and pent up emotion”.

“The defendant and his brother were extremely close, more like best mates,” Mr Pasterfield said.

“Losing a brother in such tragic circumstances would have a very disastrous effect on most people in the community, and coupled with alcohol, it’s a recipe for disaster.”

Mr Pasterfield told the court Dunley had taken steps to deal with his grief and had not touched alcohol since that night.

He also clarified the headbutt was a “gentle pushing of my client’s forehead into the forehead of the alleged victim” based on a review of CCTV footage.

Magistrate Philip Stewart said “perhaps he let his grief get away from him”.

Mr Stewart dismissed the hinder police charge and convicted Dunley of the common assault and intimidation charges, sentencing him to a 12-month community correction order and ordering him to pay a $400 fine.

Dunley was convicted for high range drink driving in May and disqualified from driving for six months, fined $1500, and ordered to hold an interlock licence for two years.

The co-accused pleaded not guilty to mid-range drink driving and hindering police, and has not entered a plea for intending to pervert the course of justice. They will appear before Sutherland Local Court for a hearing next month.