Manly star Dylan Walker charged with assault over alleged restaurant fight

Manly Sea Eagles star Dylan Walker has been charged with allegedly assaulting two men outside an Italian restaurant on Sydney’s northern beaches.

Manly Sea Eagles star Dylan Walker has been charged with allegedly assaulting two men outside an Italian restaurant on Sydney’s northern beaches last night.

Police allege Walker, 26, called in to pick up some takeaway food from the restaurant on May Rd, Narraweena around 9pm.

Dylan Walker playing against Souths in week two of the finals.

A pizza left on the ground after the alleged assault last night.

After getting the food Walker is alleged to have tried to get into a car when a man confronted him.

A physical altercation allegedly followed before a second man, also associated with the restaurant, became involved. At one point Walker is believed to have retreated back inside the restaurant before the altercation continued.

“Police have been told, a man left the restaurant and attempted to enter the vehicle of a woman, unknown to him, parked outside the restaurant,” police said in a statement.

“When confronted, the man allegedly became aggressive and was allegedly involved in a physical altercation, assaulting two men before fleeing.”

Walker was cleared last year of accusations he assaulted his partner Alexandra Ivkovic.

Police caught up with Walker a short distance away from the restaurant and he was arrested.

He was charged with two counts of common assault and granted police bail to front Manly Local Court on November 18.

The proprietor of the Little Italy Pizzeria, who asked not to be named, said a staff member “was pretty shaken up” following the alleged incident.

“He’s going to have a couple of weeks off,” the proprietor said.

“Last night they (the staff) weren’t here when I arrived, they were at the police station, so I just closed up.”

The NRL confirmed on Monday morning it was aware of the incident.

“The Manly Sea Eagles have reported an alleged incident involving Dylan Walker to the Integrity Unit,” an NRL spokesman said.

“The Integrity Unit is liaising with both police and the club.”

Manly chief executive Stephen Humphreys spoke with Walker, who was spending time with his family on Monday morning.

The Sea Eagles continue to seek information about the alleged incident and will not consider any decision on Walker’s future until all the information has been gathered.

Manly officials were not commenting but Walker’s behaviour “surprised” them given he has been described as “model citizen” this season, despite his past troubles.

The Italian restaurant at Narraweena. Picture:Richard Dobson

One source close to the club said Waker had “taken great steps forward”, making the latest drama “unfortunate.”

It is increasingly likely that the final report into the incident will indicate alcohol affected Walker’s behaviour.

It is another dramatic episode in the personal life of the superstar five-eighth who was cleared last year of accusations he assaulted his partner Alexandra Ivkovic.

He thanked his teammates for standing by him throughout the court drama involving the domestic violence allegations and signed a new deal with the club in 2020. 

He is due to enter the final year of his Sea Eagles contract next season.

As it stands, Walker’s charge of common assault does not automatically trigger the NRL’s no-fault stand-down policy because it carries a sentence of less than 11 years.

The NRL does have discretionary powers to stand down Walker if it deems appropriate but, given the 2021 season does not begin for another four months, the governing body at this stage will wait to see how the case plays out when Walker faces court.