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This is one way to stop a Manly Sea Eagles' player | The Courier-Mail
He is to make the urgent application to Southport Magistrates Court this morning after his lawyer, Campbell MacCallum, discovered the strict conditions could prevent him from playing.
Manly considers the situation so serious it is understood senior executives from the club will drive Taufua to the Gold Coast from Brisbane for this morning's hearing.
Mr MacCallum held an 11th-hour meeting with Southport chief magistrate Ron Kilner in chambers yesterday requesting the special hearing be dealt with at 9am so Taufua has time to focus on tonight's match.
"The request for the urgent special hearing has arisen due to the fact that technically he may not be allowed to enter into any part of Suncorp Stadium tonight and therefore not be allowed to play, after strict bail conditions were imposed upon him after his arrest last year," Mr MacCallum said.
"I contacted the stadium and have checked with liquor licensing and certainly all, or at least large parts, of the areas inside the stadium are classified as licensed premises.
"Potentially, Taufua could be in breach of the court order and more importantly, could be lawfully arrested before or after the game.
"Unfortunately, he can't be confirmed to play until the chief magistrate makes a decision whether or not to remove the condition."
Mr MacCallum will request the ban on entering licensed premises be removed from Taufua's bail conditions or, at least, allow a variation so he can play.
Taufua forced his way into the NRL last year, racking up 24 matches in his debut season in first grade and featuring in all three of Manly's finals matches.
The rookie winger landed in trouble last October when he allegedly spat at police after an altercation outside Shooters in Surfers Paradise about 3.35am.
He faced court the next day with bandages on his head and right eye. A hearing into the charges is set down for Monday.
- Gold Coast Bulletin
He is to make the urgent application to Southport Magistrates Court this morning after his lawyer, Campbell MacCallum, discovered the strict conditions could prevent him from playing.
Manly considers the situation so serious it is understood senior executives from the club will drive Taufua to the Gold Coast from Brisbane for this morning's hearing.
Mr MacCallum held an 11th-hour meeting with Southport chief magistrate Ron Kilner in chambers yesterday requesting the special hearing be dealt with at 9am so Taufua has time to focus on tonight's match.
"The request for the urgent special hearing has arisen due to the fact that technically he may not be allowed to enter into any part of Suncorp Stadium tonight and therefore not be allowed to play, after strict bail conditions were imposed upon him after his arrest last year," Mr MacCallum said.
"I contacted the stadium and have checked with liquor licensing and certainly all, or at least large parts, of the areas inside the stadium are classified as licensed premises.
"Potentially, Taufua could be in breach of the court order and more importantly, could be lawfully arrested before or after the game.
"Unfortunately, he can't be confirmed to play until the chief magistrate makes a decision whether or not to remove the condition."
Mr MacCallum will request the ban on entering licensed premises be removed from Taufua's bail conditions or, at least, allow a variation so he can play.
Taufua forced his way into the NRL last year, racking up 24 matches in his debut season in first grade and featuring in all three of Manly's finals matches.
The rookie winger landed in trouble last October when he allegedly spat at police after an altercation outside Shooters in Surfers Paradise about 3.35am.
He faced court the next day with bandages on his head and right eye. A hearing into the charges is set down for Monday.
- Gold Coast Bulletin
