Darlinghurst brawl: Adam Reynolds’ brother-in-law Keidan Donovan-Phillips makes bail bid

An NRL star’s brother-in-law and former Rabbitohs junior has made a bid for bail over his alleged role in a deadly late-night brawl.

The brother-in-law of Rabbitohs great and current Brisbane Broncos captain Adam Reynolds has been granted bail after being charged with affray following a violent Surry Hills brawl which left a 23-year-old man dead.

Former South Sydney Rabbitohs junior Keidan Donovan-Phillips, 20, appeared in Downing Centre Local Court charged with affray for his alleged involvement in the early morning brawl outside the Oxford Hotel in Darlinghurst on April 9. Evander Tuala died after being hospitalised.

Donovan-Phillips – who played alongside NRL guns Joseph Suaalii and Davvy Moale in the Rabbitohs junior system – had been remanded in custody for three weeks at Silverwater prison.

Keidan Donovan-Phillips is the brother-in-law of former Rabbitoh and current Bronco Adam Reynolds.

The court heard on Friday the exact circumstances surrounding the fatal brawl remained unclear.

Police allege two groups of men started fighting each other about 12.35am on April 9 and weren’t able to be stopped by the venue’s security guards. Donovan-Phillips, Mr Tuala and three others were allegedly pushing and punching each other.

Donovan-Phillips high-profile lawyer Paul McGirr said in court there was “nothing to suggest Donovan-Phillips laid a hand on the victim”.

Mr McGirr told the court the person who landed the killer blow could be seen on footage wearing a face covering and had not yet been found or charged by police.

Footage capturing the bloody brawl outside the popular Oxford Hotel on Oxford Street, Paddington.

Two screen grabs of footage of the brawl.

The second screen grab.

Donovan-Phillips’ sister is Tallara Simon-Phillips, who married halfback Reynolds in 2016. One relative previously told The Daily Telegraph the 20-year-old’s arrest had been a “tough time” for the family.

A Rabbitoh U16 winger, he was part of the club’s Harold Matthews Cup side in the 2018 season, playing eight matches and scoring one try. In that season, he played alongside Sydney Roosters star Joseph Suaalii and Rabbitohs NRL front-rower Davvy Moale.

A 2018 team photo of the Harold Matthews South Sydney Side. Donovan-Phillips (middle row, furthest left), Suaalii (back row, third left) and Moale (middle row, fourth left) are all pictured.

Reynolds and Simon-Phillips last year.

The rugby connections aren’t limited to the accused.

The deceased, 23-year-old Mr Tuala, is the cousin of Australia Rugby Sevens player Dietrich Roache who paid an emotional tribute as the team won a bronze medal at the Singapore Sevens tournament.

Roache wrote “RIL (Rest in Love) Woody” on his wrists during Australia’s match against Ireland, and pointed to the sky as he scored a try.

Mr McGirr was accompanied in court by Donovan-Phillips’ mother and ‘nana’.

“Keidan was a promising young footballer who has had some struggles in life,” Mr McGirr said. “He’s been in custody for three weeks, now in a Covid isolation ward, and he’s been caught up in the system.”

Evander Tuala died after sustaining injuries from the brawl.

Mr Tuala's cousin Dietrich Roache paid tribute to the victim during a Rugby Sevens match in Singapore

Mr McGirr said it was a relief his client had been granted bail and he intended to fight the charge, with a formal plea of not guilty expected.

“It’s deeply sad that someone has lost their life – it’s tragic that it’s result in what’s happened,” he said.

As part of his bail conditions, Donovan-Phillips has an enforced curfew between 9pm and 6am, can’t enter Sydney’s CBD or go within 2km of it unless to see his lawyer, must report to Maroubra police station three times a week, must refrain from alcohol, and can have no association with the two other men charged and the five others named in the police facts. He will reside with his grandmother.

Byron Brown, 19, has also been charged with affray for his involvement in the brawl and was released on conditional bail. A third man has also been charged.

Originally published as Darlinghurst brawl: Adam Reynolds’ brother-in-law Keidan Donovan-Phillips makes bail bid