Joel Romelo: Ex-NRL player’s sentence delayed again, lawyer says he’s ready to turn life around

Darwin ex-NRL hooker Joel Romelo will have to wait another month to find out when he might be released from custody. His lawyer says the serial domestic violence abuser now has appropriate support.

Former NRL hooker Joel Romelo leaving Darwin Local Court. Picture: File

Troubled ex-NRL hooker Joel Romelo will have to wait another month to find out when he might be released from custody, with his lawyer telling a court the serial domestic violence abuser now has appropriate supports in place for when he re-enters the community.

Darwin-born Romelo, who once played across a string of clubs in Australia’s premier rugby league competition, has been in custody since September 13 last year, when he was arrested for a drug-fuelled attack on a previous partner.

On March 5, he was sentenced to eight months’ imprisonment, which has now expired.

However, he remains remanded in custody on eight outstanding driving, property and firearms charges, which were committed in August and September last year.

Romelo was due to be sentenced in the Darwin Local Court on Tuesday before Judge Stephen Geary, but it has now been put off to July 15 to enable the commissioning of an additional report into the defendant’s rehabilitation prospects.

Joel Romelo celebrates his try during the round 21 NRL match between the Sydney Roosters and the Canterbury Bulldogs at the Sydney Football Stadium on Saturday, July 30, 2011. The Rooster beat the Bulldogs 32-28. (Action Photographics/Renee McKay)

Defence lawyer Nicholas Goodfellow told the court his client was “eager for this matter to progress”.

“He is someone that would be coming out of custody now in quite different circumstances,” he said.

Mr Goodfellow said Banyan House had made rehabilitation available to Romelo upon his release, and he had a job and accommodation lined up.

Judge Geary said Romelo’s sentencing exercise was complicated due to the eight months he had already served on the assault matter, which resulted in his then partner requiring stitches.

Romelo, who was previously jailed in 2019 for an unrelated attack on a former partner, was supported in court by his current partner and aunt.