- Arana Taumata released by a host of NRL clubs
- Clash with police at a Sydney pub on October 19
- Taumata, 35, tried to flee the scene on foot.
A magistrate branded a former NRL prodigy “very, very foolish” after he fled from police in a botched escape attempt that ended in a bloody brawl.
Arana Taumata was leaving the Coogee Pavilion in Sydney’s east at 10.30pm on October 19 when police officers recognized he had an outstanding warrant for domestic violence charges, the court heard.
The 35-year-old man was taken aside and asked for identification, but court documents revealed he provided false information.
One of the officers noticed the former NRL player looking around and “looking for possible escape routes” and waved the others closer.
Before they could get closer, Taumata used his stiff arm to hit the police officer in the chest and push him back three steps.
The former five-eighth then ran down Dolphin St in Coogee as five police officers chased him.
“Stop, you’re under arrest,” a police officer shouted as they ran.
One of the officers tackled Taumata, who flailed his arms and legs violently in an attempt to free himself from their grasp.
Former NRL player Arana Taumata avoided jail for resisting arrest outside a trendy Sydney pub in October.
Arana Taumata (pictured) gave police a torrid time after he was recognized outside the Coogee Pavilion in Sydney.
Three more police officers joined the struggle and, between the four of them, managed to hold Taumata’s arms behind his back while the fifth police officer handcuffed him.
During the struggle, the 29-year-old officer who tackled Taumata suffered a large cut near his eye that produced a “significant amount” of blood and required four stitches.
Taumata appeared at Waverley Local Court on Monday to plead guilty to the offense of resisting an officer in the execution of his duty and be sentenced.
His lawyer Wilson Tighe told the court the former rugby league player was “obviously nervous” about his outstanding warrants when he decided to try to escape from police.
He noted that the 35-year-old had a criminal record dating back to 2011, but this was his first time in custody.
“This has been an important experience for him,” Mr Tighe said.
The police prosecutor said the offense was at the more serious end of the spectrum because it involved a “prolonged struggle in which he attempted to free himself several times”.
Magistrate Jacqueline Milledge told Taumata he was “so foolish” to think he could leave the police behind without any consequences.
Arana Taumata’s escape attempt ended in a bloody confrontation with the police
The former NRL player has been sentenced to a community corrections order
“They know exactly where you are and they know exactly how to find you,” he scolded.
“You were very, very foolish and this was a serious encounter.”
The magistrate sentenced Taumata to an 18-month community corrections order and ordered him to behave.
The former NRL player’s sentence is set to expire in April 2026.
During an interrupted playing career, he played a total of 14 NRL matches for Canterbury, North Queensland and Penrith between 2008 and 2012.
The five-eighth was snapped up by the Broncos, Roosters, Bulldogs, Melbourne and was released by the Panthers in 2013 due to off-field issues.