Former Bulldogs hooker Michael Lichaa begins custody proceedings after being estranged from his kids

Michael Lichaa is still picking up the pieces of a life that was shattered when he caught former Bulldogs teammate Adam Elliott with his fiancee.

Adam Elliott may be fighting to save his career – but Michael Lichaa is fighting to save his family.

While Elliott may be locked in a new battle to save his career after being stood down for a bathroom encounter with NRLW star Millie Boyle, Lichaa is still picking up the pieces of a life that was shattered when he caught his former Bulldogs teammate engaged in an intimate act with his fiancee.

News Corp can reveal the fallout from Elliott’s first tryst took a turn this week when Lichaa began custody proceedings after being estranged from his children.

The race to the 2021 NRL Telstra Finals Series is on and every game matters. Watch Live & Ad-Break Free on Kayo. New to Kayo? Try 14-days free >.

Kara Childerhouse and Michael Lichaa in happier times.

A day after Elliott was stood down for his latest breach, Lichaa was in court filing an interim order to seek access to his children.

“I don’t care about any of that,” Lichaa said when asked about Elliott’s latest indiscretion.

“I am just worried about seeing my kids. I won’t be making any comment.”

News Corp can reveal that Lichaa has been living in shared accommodation with boxer Jack Brubaker since he caught Elliott in the intimate act with his former fiancee, Kara Childerhouse on the back deck of the couple’s Connells Point home on February 14.

Lichaa split with Ms Childerhouse after the incident.

While Elliott was able to continue his career after issuing a public apology for his role in the incident, Lichaa was charged with several offences after police attended the Connell’s Point home on the morning of February 14.

Taken to hospital with injuries alleged to have been sustained by punching a window, Lichaa later entered pleas of not guilty to charges including common assault, destroying or damaging property and stalk/intimate to cause fear of physical harm.

Elliott apologised for his actions but was spared any punishment from his NRL club.

Lichaa has given up on his NRL dream.

“This is an extremely difficult time for my family and I,” Elliott said.

“They are my most important focus at the moment and I ask that people can respect mine and my family’s privacy at this time.

“In consultation with the Club, I will be undertaking the necessary help that I require with appropriate measures and checks.”

Set to face court on November 2, Lichaa has been attempting to rebuild his life since the breakdown of the relationship.

It can be revealed the former Lebanese international has been working as a carpenter for Parramatta building firm Introbuild Constructions.

While volunteering as a junior rugby league coach, Lichaa gave up on his dream of returning to the NRL in the wake of the incident.

Estranged from several of his former teammates, including Elliott, Lichaa was also stood down by the NRL as part of the no-fault stand down policy.

Having initially reached an amicable arrangement with Ms Childerhouse to see his children three days a week, Lichaa is taking steps to see them again after that arrangement broke down.

Adam Elliott is locked in a battle to save his career.

The interim child access order was lodged by Lichaa’s solicitor Bassam Kazi from KPL Lawyers on Tuesday.

Lichaa refused to divulge details of the court order or his relationship with Ms Childerhouse when contacted by News Corp.

Meanwhile, Elliott was issued a $10,000 fine by the NRL and could face further disciplinary action from the NRL after he was asked to leave a Gold Coast restaurant on Sunday afternoon.

Management at the venue ejected Eliott from the restaurant after he was discovered in the men’s bathroom with Broncos NRLW player Boyle

.

The pair were alleged to have been kissing.

It’s the third time Elliott has been embroiled in off-field issues involving alcohol since 2018 when he was involved in a “Mad Monday” incident.

Elliott pleaded guilty to wilful and obscene exposure after allegedly placing his genitals in a drink.

Punish him: Teammates turn on Elliott

An influential pocket of dissenting Bulldogs players have turned on teammate Adam Elliott and hope the forward will be heavily disciplined or even sacked.

News Corp spoke with multiple sources in and around the club who revealed a core of players remain upset in the wake of Elliott’s liaison with former teammate Michael Lichaa’s fiancee, Kara Childerhouse, in February.

A week after the Lichaa incident, Bulldogs players attended the club’s season launch at Doltone House, Jones Bay Wharf, where they spoke among themselves about Elliott’s behaviour before deciding to vent their feelings to club powerbrokers.

The race to the 2021 NRL Telstra Finals Series is on and every game matters. Watch Live & Ad-Break Free on Kayo. New to Kayo? Try 14-days free >

Teammates aren’t happy with Adam Elliott.

At the time, with the NRL season looming and the club full of hope, the player uprising was quietly quelled.

Many of the club’s players with Pasifika heritage were angry at Elliott, who was backed by Bulldogs coach Trent Barrett.

Some of those same players have again expressed dismay after Elliott’s latest off-field indiscretion, a kiss with NRLW player Millie Boyle in the toilet of a Gold Coast restaurant on Sunday afternoon. Elliott was asked to leave the restaurant.

It is understood the club is quietly canvassing players seeking their reaction to Elliott. If Elliott was sacked, the club may have the money to launch a bid for Newcastle halfback Mitchell Pearce for 2023.

While the Boyle incident does not carry the same moral complications as the Childerhouse encounter, a core of players have again expressed exasperation at Elliott’s actions.

Players will publicly support Elliott to display team harmony but privately they tell a different story. The club has stuck by Elliott.

Elliott won’t play again this season.

They want the club to take strong action although it is uncertain whether the players will front the club’s general manager of football, Phil Gould, with their concerns.

“He (Elliott) is an asset to the club – he just has a few things to work on, that’s all,” said Bulldogs forward Ava Seumanufagai. “Apart from his off-field stuff, he does bring a lot to this squad.

“He hasn’t said too much. He’s been stood down so hasn’t been around training. I know the boys have been getting around him and trying to cheer him up. That’s about as much as you can do, really. He is one of the players the boys look up to.”

Canterbury is aware of dissension in their playing ranks over Elliott and want it settled well before the start of next season when the club hopes to start enjoying the fruits of its much publicised recruitment drive.

There are other players at the club who support Elliott.

The NRL integrity unit is investigating the Elliott-Boyle incident.

Bulldogs CEO Aaron Warburton spoke to NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo on Wednesday seeking a time frame for when the integrity unit’s report would be completed.

Nick Meaney says Elliott has been ‘very remorseful.’

After reviewing that report, Canterbury will then launch their own investigation based on the integrity unit’s findings.

“He has had his incidents off the field. We have had meetings in-house with the playing group. ‘Jacko’ (Josh Jackson, skipper) has spoken to everyone. He (Elliott) was very remorseful but he was trying to keep his spirits up,” said Bulldogs fullback Nick Meaney.

“He has put his foot down in the last seven months and we’ve seen a massive change in Adam. Whatever the Bulldogs decide to do, they will make that decision.

“He was a little bit disappointed at the start (of the week), obviously. He is still here in camp so all the boys are getting around him, just trying to stay positive and get through it.”

Elliott was stood down for the rest of this season. He comes off contract after the 2023 season.

Originally published as Former Bulldogs hooker Michael Lichaa begins custody proceedings after being estranged from his kids