Ex-Penrith Panthers and Cowboys footy star arrested after alleged foot chase with police in Sydney
- An ex-NRL star was arrested on Saturday
- This happened after a short chase with the police
A former NRL star was reportedly arrested on Saturday evening following an alleged chase with police in Sydney.
Ex-Bulldogs and Penrith star Arana Taumata was taken into police custody at around 10.30pm after being approached by officers about several outstanding warrants, according to News Corp.
Police say the 35-year-old had been running from officers but was eventually arrested outside a pub in the eastern suburbs after a short chase.
One 29-year-old boy reportedly hit his head and suffered a cut during the incident. The officer was taken to hospital in stable condition.
News Corp says the former Penrith and Bulldogs star is charged with four counts of domestic violence.
The newspaper adds that he was also charged with obstructing and resisting a police officer in the execution of his duty.
The former footballer appeared in Parramatta District Court on Sunday where he was refused bail. He will now remain in pre-trial detention.
It comes after warrants were issued for his arrest in June. Taumata, born in New Zealand, had been convicted of seven offenses in his absence after pleading not guilty to fraud, dealing with the proceeds of crime, common assault and intimidation.
News Corp reports he will appear in court this week on these charges.
Taumata, who also represented New Zealand’s Maori, made his NRL debut with the Canterbury Bulldogs in 2008.
Arana Taumata was reportedly arrested on Saturday evening after a foot chase with police
Police say the 35-year-old had been running from officers but was eventually arrested outside a pub in the eastern suburbs after a short chase.
Taumata enjoyed a short-lived NRL career with Canterbury, Penrith and the Cowboys
He would later join Melbourne Storm, but was sacked by the club without playing a single match, after a ‘physical altercation’ in the city.
Taumata would later be signed by Wests Tigers and go on to play for the Queensland Cowboys, before joining Penrith on a one-year deal in 2011.
He would play for Penrith twice before leaving the club in 2013.
He had claimed he had ‘no support from the club’. . . I felt abandoned in many ways.”
Over the course of his playing career he would play 14 first grade NRL matches.
Earlier this year, Taumata made headlines after saving a young woman in distress in Brisbane.
It happened after the 35-year-old had been out for lunch, but was sprung into action when he saw a woman lying on the ground after being confronted by a man who had knocked her over.
In recent years, Taumata has become a running and fitness influencer on social media and has 24,500 followers on Instagram.