By Chris Barrett and Michael Chammas
The mother of an NRL star who is playing for a place in the grand final on Saturday night was allegedly assaulted by a woman in a Dubbo pub after being linked to the Latrell Mitchell white-substance scandal.
Tiffany Murphy, 36, has been charged with assault occasioning bodily harm and stalking after police investigated an incident at the Pastoral Hotel in the early hours of Saturday, August 24.
The alleged victim was Kerri Cochrane, whose son, Braydon Trindall, will line up at five-eighth for the Cronulla Sharks in an NRL preliminary final against Penrith Panthers at Accor Stadium on Saturday night.
Cochrane had been in the news in the days before allegedly being attacked, denying that she was responsible for leaking an image of South Sydney superstar Mitchell standing over a white substance in a Dubbo hotel room earlier in August.
She was left with bruising to her face and received medical treatment in hospital after Murphy approached her and allegedly hit her in the side of the head.
Cochrane had also complained of receiving threatening messages on social media from Murphy before the incident.
Braydon Trindall with mother Kerri.
Sources with knowledge of the incident have given differing versions of what led to it, with finger-pointing over who released the photo of Mitchell and separate personal issues raised as contributing factors.
A NSW Police spokesperson said officers in the Orana Mid-Western Police District began an investigation on the day of the alleged assault.
“Police were told a 44-year-old woman was allegedly assaulted by a woman at a licensed premises on Talbragar Street, Dubbo, about 2am that morning,” the spokesperson said.
“It is believed they were known to each other. Following inquiries, about 6.30pm on Tuesday 3 September 2024, police arrested a 36-year-old woman at an address in Dubbo.
The Pastoral Hotel in Dubbo.Credit: Facebook
“She was taken to Dubbo Police Station where she was charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm and stalk/intimidate intend fear physical etc harm. She was issued a court attendance notice to appear before Dubbo Local Court on Wednesday 16 October 2024.”
She is listed to appear in court in Dubbo on October 16.
Cochrane has also applied for an apprehended violence order against Murphy, which is due to be heard by a magistrate next Tuesday.
Cochrane reportedly claimed on Facebook last month that a fake account in her name had been set up on the photo-sharing platform Snapchat to share the image of Mitchell.
Latrell Mitchell leans over a table with a white substance on it.
“As if I would do such a f---in thing,” she posted. “I don’t need to ruin someone’s life and footy career to make a quick buck.”
The Herald attempted to contact Murphy on Friday. Cochrane declined to comment.
Mitchell, who had been in Dubbo for a women’s rugby league clinic, was fined $20,000 by both Souths and the NRL and suspended for a match over the photo, which capped a season of disappointment for the Rabbitohs in which they ended up second last.
His sanctioning for bringing the game into disrepute sparked a showdown between Souths and the NRL over when he should serve his ban.
Mitchell, who had been injured and not played since July, said he would be fit to play in the final round of the season if required so the Rabbitohs argued the suspension should be served then.
But the NRL ordered that Mitchell must instead sit out the first round of the 2025 season.
Trindall endured a major off-field setback of his own this season as well after failing roadside tests for alcohol and illicit drugs in April.
He was fined and disqualified for drink-driving for three months and was sidelined from the NRL for more than a month but after returning to the field he has excelled, playing a key role in Cronulla’s top-four finish and their bid to reach the grand final.
Trindall produced his best form while halfback Nicho Hynes was out injured towards the end of the season, directing the attack for the Sharks as they won five from six games.
The 25-year-old’s performances have prompted discussion about whether Trindall should take over as Cronulla’s No.1 playmaker and Hynes should be shifted to fullback in the future.
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