Darryl Augustine Erepia leads guilty in Toowoomba District Court to violent grub act

The dog act of a Darling Downs rugby league player, who recently pleaded guilty to sexual assault, has been revealed when he was brought back to court for another violent crime.

Darryl Erepia, former Warwick Cowboys player, he has appeared in court three times over the past few years for serious criminal charges.

A Darling Downs rugby league player has fronted the higher courts for the second time this year for a serious violent offence.

Darryl Augustine Erepia pleaded guilty before the Toowoomba District Court in June to assault occasioning bodily harm, three months after the former Toowoomba rugby league star pleaded guilty to sexual assault.

The violent incident occurred in August 2021, with the court proceedings delayed due to two other matters Erepia had before the courts.

The former Toowoomba Grammar School and Warwick Cowboys player attempted to settle the assault outside of court through discussions with the victim, however the court was told the Director of Public Prosecutions said it wasn’t an appropriate course of action given the nature of the charge.

In March 2025, Darling Downs rugby league player Darryl Augustine Erepia, pleaded guilty to a sexual assault charge after his lawyers made a deal with the Crown to drop a much more serious charge.

The court was told the assault occurred when a friend of Erepia, who had been drinking and behaving poorly, tried to intervene in an altercation between the 24-year-old and a third party.

Erepia grabbed the man around the neck, forced him to the ground, and began punching him in the face.

Bouchier Khan Lawyers director and specialist criminal lawyer Nathan Bouchier told the court Erepia had not committed another offence, except for breaching his bail conditions, since the assault occurred.

Mr Bouchier said the young man planned to return to Papua New Guinea to help his father with his business endeavours; however he eventually planned to return to Australia to support his partner and child.

He said a fine was within range for the assault, noting Erepia had already suffered consequences as a result of the crime, noting other circumstances that should be taken into account included his plea, age, and remorse.

The former Toowoomba Grammar School student was re-signed by the Warwick Cowboys Rugby League Club in 2025 and was since given a Show Cause Notice by Queensland Rugby League after he pleaded guilty to sexual assault in March this year.

Judge Dennis Lynch KC told Erepia his alcohol use was no excuse, however it may better explain his conduct.

“You have demonstrated … that you have made genuine efforts to change your life,” he said.

“You no longer drink to excess, and it would seem there is now a level of maturity about your general conduct.”

Judge Lynch said given Erepia’s need to travel between countries, and the role work played in the rehabilitation efforts of offenders, no conviction would be recorded.

Erepia was fined $1000.

In March, Erepia pleaded guilty to a sexual assault charge after Mr Bouchier made a deal with the Crown to drop “a much more serious charge,” and was sentenced to a three-month suspended jail term.

In August 2023, a jury cleared Erepia of a serious assault charge following a three-day trial, where the court heard complainant sustained a brain injury after being tackled by Erepia on a concrete driveway.

Originally published as Darryl Augustine Erepia leads guilty in Toowoomba District Court to violent grub act