An end-of-season celebration at a regional NSW pub has landed four members of the Wauchope Blues rugby league club in court after an altercation with venue staff.
The incident occurred at Wauchope’s Bago Tavern on 13 September last year, with Port Macquarie Local Court hearing the matter last Tuesday.
Beau White, 35, Reuben Trick, 33, Wycliff Fetulimoeta Tuiaki, 23, and Korie Paio, 22, all pleaded guilty to assaulting the Tavern’s duty manager and attempting to regain entry after being asked to leave.
White was the Blues’ first grade coach, while his brother-in-law Trick coached the second-grade team. The younger men were players.
The group had been attending an end-of-season function when venue staff began receiving complaints about their behaviour.
Duty manager Lee Page stepped in and asked the group to leave shortly after 6pm.
What followed was a confrontation that saw several of the men attempt to get back inside the venue, despite being directed to leave.
The court heard Trick pushed Page as he attempted to re-enter, with her head becoming caught underneath his arm.
Trick, Tuiaki and Paio were eventually removed from the premises, but the confrontation continued outside, with the men surrounding Page while White confronted her.
Judge Maryanne Higginson described the circumstances as particularly disturbing, with the court recognising the impact of the incident on a venue worker simply trying to do her job.
Trick attracted particular criticism because, unlike the other three men, he was sober due to being the group’s designated driver.
The court also heard Trick was regarded as a respected leader among younger players, although his conduct on the night did not reflect those qualities.
Trick was fined $600 for attempting to re-enter the Tavern and $800 for the assault, with a conviction recorded. He was also ordered to provide fingerprints and other identifying information to police.
Tuiaki, White and Paio were found guilty of the same offences, although no convictions were recorded against them.
Tuiaki and White received 12-month Community Corrections Orders, while Paio received a nine-month order.
All four men have also been excluded from the Bago Tavern for six months.
The Tavern is a sponsor of the Wauchope Blues, adding an awkward postscript to what was meant to be a celebration of the club’s season.
The outcome highlights the challenges venues can face when groups become difficult to manage, particularly when staff are attempting to enforce a direction to leave.
