By Luke Costin
North Queensland second-rower Luciano Leilua will challenge a domestic violence assault case as his lawyer presses for police to file admissible evidence.
The 26-year-old was charged last week after allegedly assaulting a woman known to him, also 26, and smashing her phone at a home on Sydney’s southwestern outskirts.
Luciano Leilua.Credit:Getty
The alleged October 3 incident has already led to him being stood down under the NRL’s no-fault stand-down policy and forced out of Samoa’s side for the Rugby League World Cup.
The woman had not made a statement in an admissible form, Leilua’s lawyer told Campbelltown Local Court on Tuesday.
“His career has been placed on hold,” Elias Tabchouri said.
Mr Tabchouri said “urgent representations” were being made to police to file an admissible statement as quickly as possible.
The case will be mentioned again next Tuesday. Leilua has been excused from attending if legally represented.
Any contested hearing could not occur before May, the court was told.
The NRL says the decision to stand down Leilua should in no way be interpreted as a view on the innocence or guilt of the player.
“The discretionary no-fault stand down condition has been applied in this instance as the criminal charges involve allegations that the player has acted violently in relation to a female,” the league said on Thursday.
Leilua will be able to train with North Queensland once they return in November. However, he will have to wait until the completion of court matters before a potential NRL return.
A mid-season signing from Wests Tigers, Leilua had made a significant impact on his arrival at the club in 2022 and is a significant part of their plans for at least the next three seasons.
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AAP
