South Sydney Rabbitohs great Nathan Merritt hit with AVO application by his wife

Rabbitohs legend Nathan Merritt is due to face court on Wednesday after he was hit with an AVO on behalf of his wife.

South Sydney Rabbitohs legend Nathan Merritt will appear in court on Wednesday after police applied to take out an apprehended violence order against him.

Court records show NSW Police has applied for the AVO against Merritt on behalf of his wife Faith Phillips, with whom he shares multiple children.

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According to The Daily Telegraph, no criminal charges have been laid.

As part of the conditions of the provisional AVO, Merritt must not approach Phillips for at least 12 hours if he was to drink alcohol or take illicit drugs and he is also forbidden from going to her residence or place of work.

Nathan Merritt scored 154 tries during 237 games in the NRL between 2002 and 2014. Picture: Hillyard Philip

The 41-year-old, who scored 154 tries during 237 games in the NRL between 2002 and 2014, last made headlines in 2023 when he was temporarily placed on life support.

Merritt was found unresponsive at his aunt’s house, days after playing in the Koori Knockout.

The former NRL star was understood to have had an adverse reaction to prescribed painkillers.

Merritt spent six weeks in Royal Prince Alfred Hospital recovering and teaching himself to walk again before being released.

He marked his recovery with a lap around the field at the next Souths Sydney Rabbitohs match where he was cheered and clapped by NRL fans.