NRL star Dylan Walker was so drunk he couldn’t remember pizza shop assault

Manly NRL star Dylan Walker was so drunk when he pushed a man outside a pizza store he didn’t remember a thing until seeing a video of it.

NRL star Dylan Walker was so drunk when he pushed a man outside a Sydney northern beaches pizza restaurant he couldn’t remember the incident until shown video of the altercation, a court has heard.

Walker on Friday escaped conviction after he pleaded guilty to one count of common assault following a bizarre incident which was brought on when he drunkenly attempted to get into his victim’s sister’s car asking for a lift.

Court documents reveal that Walker said to his victim “why are you acting hard for?” before pushing him in the chest in November last year.

According to a statement of agreed facts, Sea Eagles coach Des Hasler made a 1am dash to Manly Police Station to act as a support person for Walker following his arrest in November last year.

Walker had previously indicated that he would plead not guilty, and the matter was scheduled to be the subject of a two-day hearing, in which his victim Stephen Melani was set to give evidence.

But the Manly outside back’s barrister Richard Pontello on Friday entered a guilty plea to one count at Sydney’s Downing Centre Local Court while another count was withdrawn by the police prosecution.

NRL player Dylan Walker leaves the Downing Centre in Sydney on Friday. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Christian Gilles

The court heard that Walker assaulted Mr Melani by pushing him following a verbal argument outside the Little Italy Pizzeria at Narraweena on Sunday, November 1 last year.

Magistrate Vivien Swain said Walker was so drunk at the time that he could not remember the incident.

“His intoxication was so significant that night it caused memory loss and he only recalled it by video taken by the victim’s sister,” Ms Swain said.

“It would have been frightening for all present at the scene.

“Mr Melani was trying to protect his sister in the first instance and offered some alternative mode of transport for Mr Walker.”

According to the agreed facts, Walker went to the pizza restaurant around 8.30pm to order a pepperoni and a Nutella pizza.

After being served his food, he approached two women - one of whom was Mr Melani’s sister - who were standing by their car.

After he “mumbled words towards both parties”, he attempted to open the passenger door of the woman’s vehicle.

Mr Melani intervened, saying: “This is my sister and this is her car.”

Walker replied “Can I get a lift?” before Mr Melani offered to order him an Uber or taxi.

The 26-year-old came towards Mr Melani’s face and began acting aggressively, saying: “Why are you acting hard for?”

His victim replied: “I’m not, I’m just trying to help you.”

Mr Melani was pulled away by another man, but Walker came at him again and pushed him in the chest with two hands, forcing him to step back.

He was not injured in the incident, which was captured by his sister on her mobile phone.

After a witness rang triple-0, Walker was soon found by police on nearby Victor Road before being taken to Manly Police Station and charged.

While there, he requested that Mr Hasler come to the station to support him.

Dylan Walker warms up during a match between the Manly Sea Eagles and the Penrith Panthers in August. Picture: Jason McCawley/Getty Images

Outside court, Walker stopped short of saying he would give up alcohol, with the court also hearing he had entered counselling.

Asked if he had any words for his victim, Walker said: “He got his apology.”

“There’s a lot going on in my life, there’s always kids out there that find struggles,” Walker said.

“I’m always there to help, I’m an open book, I don’t hide behind anything, I don’t shy away from challenges. It’s just an opportunity for me to be a better person, a better role model, a better father, son, brother.”

Ms Swain said his offending fell on the lower end of the scale and his prospects of rehabilitation were positive.

She elected to not record a conviction but warned him that he would have to be of good behaviour under an 18-month conditional release order.

Mr Walker is in the final year of his NRL contract with the Sea Eagles.

He was not stood down under the NRL’s no-fault stand down rule, which only applies for crimes that carry a jail term of 11 years or more, though could face punishment from the governing body after being sentenced.