NZ Warriors forward Josh Curran has avoided conviction, after pleading guilty to assault against a teenager at Port Macquarie last October.
Curran, 24, was watching the NRL Grand Final with relatives at the Level Up nightclub, when he was approached by a young fan, who had been photographing and videoing him without his consent.
"My client told the young person he didn't trust him and then there was a melee, where one strike occurred, which has caused blood to the mouth," said Curran's lawyer Paul FC McGirr, according to the Daily Mail Australia.
McGirr described the event as an "isolated incident" and "unfortunate", while highlighting his client's good character and clean record.
At Port Macquarie Local Court, Curran pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm, while other charges of grievous bodily harm and larceny withdrawn were dismissed.
The victim did not give evidence and Magistrate Greg Grogin placed Curran on a 12-month good behaviour conditional release order. Curran must also replace the teenager's lost phone.
Grogin called the charge a "wake-up call" for the Warriors player.
"The eyes of the world are on you and wherever you go, people are going to have mobile phones and will be filming you."
Curran now awaits any further punishment from the NRL Integrity Unit.
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