- NRL 360 presenter Braith Anasta appeared to mock colleague Paul Kent
- Kent, 54, was fired in April after an alleged street fight in Sydney
- Journalist accused of altercation and requests dismissal under Mental Health Act
Footy star turned Fox Sports presenter Braith Anasta has left a legend of the game in the lurch after poking fun at his former co-presenter Paul Kent on live television.
On Tuesday night, the NRL 360 panel discussed the Origin selections and journalist Dave Riccio argued Queensland has already ‘planted the seed’ and often ‘taken the heat’ when it comes to crucial field calls against NSW.
Maroons great Gorden Tallis disagreed and referred to a tree, before Anasta intervened with: “Let’s not talk about trees.”
Tallis laughed loudly, while fellow panellist Paul Crawley – an old colleague of Kent’s at the Daily Telegraph – was also grinning from ear to ear.
Anasta made a veiled reference to Kent being thrown into a tree after the veteran journalist became involved in a verbal altercation that reportedly turned physical outside a Sydney pub at around 11pm on April 27.
Footy star turned Fox Sports presenter Braith Anasta has raised eyebrows among rugby league fans after poking fun at his former NRL 360 co-host Paul Kent on live television
Police allege there was a verbal altercation outside a Sydney establishment on April 27, which quickly turned physical with Kent throwing the journalist into a tree (pictured)
Kent, 54, is seeking to have an assault charge dismissed on mental health grounds following the alleged incident
It is claimed that a widely shared video from the evening shows staff and customers trying to stop Kent before the alleged fight spilled into the street.
In the clip, Kent can be heard calling another man a “dogface” before he was reportedly thrown into a tree across the road, where he hit his head in the gutter.
Kent appeared at Downing Center Local Court on May 14 for a bail review as he faced a single charge of affray.
His lawyer George Elias told the court he will seek to have the charges dealt with under the provisions of the NSW Mental Health Act.
“I will be applying to have this case heard under mental health and cognitive impairment,” Elias told Magistrate Scott Nash.
‘In the aftermath of this alleged incident, he [Kent] urgent advice sought. He visited his GP, who referred him to Burwood Hospital.
‘He has an urgent appointment to come and have a look [one doctor] And [is seeking] other treatment…relating to alcohol.”
Kent has been fired from Fox Sports and News Corp while his employers investigate the alleged feud
Under the law, a magistrate can issue an order to remove a person from the care of a responsible person if he is found to have an intellectual disability.
Nash agreed to a six-week delay so Kent could receive a treatment plan from his new doctor and rejected his bail reporting conditions.
When asked by the prosecutor if he would plead guilty to get a reduced sentence, Kent told reporters he “had nothing to say.”
He did not enter pleas and was fired by Fox Sports and News Corp the day after the alleged incident “pending an immediate investigation.”
It comes just months after Kent was found not guilty of charges he strangled and assaulted his then-partner Lucy Kennedy, an outcome he called a “vindication.”
A second man, 35, who police say was involved in the scuffle with Kent, was charged with affray before being granted bail at the court on June 7.
He is expected to be defended by high-profile criminal defense lawyer Chris Murphy.