21 witnesses to give evidence at NRL legend Wendell Sailor’s assault hearing

A stack of witnesses will take the stand when NRL great Wendell Sailor returns to court next year over an alleged assault.

Twenty-one witnesses are set to give evidence in a hearing for rugby league great Wendell Sailor over allegations he assaulted two men during an incident at a Sydney bar.

The former Brisbane Broncos and Wallabies winger pleaded not guilty in January to a string of charges relating to the alleged assault.

The 50-year-old has been charged with two counts of common assault, behaving in an offensive manner, excluded person remaining in vicinity of licensed premises and stalk/intimidate.

Wendell Sailor (right) has been charged with a string of offences relating to an alleged assault at a Sydney CBD bar. Picture: NewsWire / Jeremy Piper

It’s alleged Mr Sailor remained in the vicinity of a Sydney CBD bar on November 6 after being asked to leave.

He was not required to appear in the Downing Centre Local Court on Thursday when his matter was briefly mentioned.

His solicitor Joseph Giang told the court that 21 witnesses were set to give evidence in a hearing expected to span three days next February.

Of those witnesses, six are civilians, 12 are police witnesses and three are defence witnesses, the court was told.

CCTV footage and body-worn police footage from the night is also expected to be played to the court.

Magistrate Hugh Donnelly commented on how long the matter had been dragged through the court.

“This matter’s been before the court since November last year … it’s well beyond the normal timeframe expected and it may be that it’s a bigger case but we are now in May,” he said.

Police were called to the Erskine St bar about 11pm on November 6, 2024, after reports of the alleged assault.

Mr Sailor will return to court next year. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Christian Gilles

No injuries were reported.

Mr Sailor represented the Broncos and Dragons during his 222-game NRL career.

No stranger to controversy, he then crossed codes, playing 37 Tests for the Wallabies before a drug ban for testing positive to cocaine ended his time in rugby union.

After a two-year ban, Mr Sailor returned to rugby league, ending his career with the Dragons.

Having forged a career in the media, Mr Sailor announced his retirement from Triple M “effective immediately” in July last year.

He had been a popular commentator and broadcaster on the Sydney drive show The Rush Hour with Gus, Jude & Wendell, alongside Gus Worland and Swans legend Jude Bolton.

Mr Sailor had been a key member of the network’s commentary team since 2015.

The matter will return to court in December for a readiness hearing, with Mr Sailor’s bail set to continue.