A man who allegedly punched a teenage referee in the face at a junior rugby league match in Sydney's south on the weekend will apply to be dealt with under the Mental Health Act.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Jucy Talau, 34, who is reportedly the brother of former NRL star Willie Talau, did not enter a plea when he faced Sutherland Local Court on Wednesday morning charged with one count of assault occasioning actual bodily harm.
Talau is accused of punching a 16-year-old referee, who can not be named for legal reasons, during an under-12s match at Anzac Oval in Engadine on Saturday.
It is understood Mr Talau was acting as a qualified junior league trainer for the Gymea Gorillas as they played against the Engadine Dragons. The assault allegedly occurred after the referee ruled that a player needed to be replaced during the match.
In court, a lawyer for Talau consented without making admissions to the police application for an Apprehended Violence Order. This order prevents Talau from contacting, intimidating, harassing or assaulting the teen referee for 12 months.
Talau's lawyer also indicated that there would be an application for the matter to be dealt with under Section 32 of the Mental Health Act.
A hearing for the application will be held in August, while Talau must enter a plea of either guilty or not guilty by July 12.
Magistrate Julie Huber excused Talau of attending his next court date.
Dressed in a grey hoodie and keeping his face down, Talau did not speak to reporters as he entered and left the court.
The young referee was treated at the field by paramedics and was taken to the Children's Hospital at Randwick with bruising.
Following the alleged assault, Talau was stood down as a trainer and banned from all league grounds in the Cronulla-Sutherland district.
The Cronulla-Sutherland District Junior Rugby League has introduced new mandatory penalties, effective immediately, for those found to have abused referees.
The "zero tolerance" rules include a six-month ban from official duties for coaches, trainers, managers and spectators for a first offence, a 12-month ban for a second offence and a life ban for a third offence.
Players sent off for showing dissent to a referee will face a six-match ban for a first offence, a six-month ban for a second offence and year long ban for a third offence.
"I believe it's necessary to protect the integrity of the referees and moving forward I believe it will be good for rugby league in general," general manager Nathan Waugh said.
