South Sydney Rabbitohs great to face court as he is hit with AVO application by his wife

• A former South Sydney Rabbitohs great is due to face court on Wednesday  
• The former footy player was hit with an AVO by police on behalf of hiw wife   

By ED CARRUTHERS FOR DAILY MAIL AUSTRALIA

Nathan Merritt looks set to face court after police applied to take out an apprehended violence order against the former South Sydney Rabbitohs star, according to reports.

The Daily Telegraph claims the order was made by New South Wales Police on behalf of his wife Faith Phillips.

Phillips and Merritt share multiple children together and it is understood no criminal charges have been issued.

A reported provisional order is already in place against Merritt. The Daily Telegraph claims he ‘must not approach Ms Phillips for at least 12 hours after drinking alcohol or taking illicit drugs.’

He has also been banned from visiting Phillips’ place of work or residence.

The 41-year-old is now due to appear in Downing Centre Local Court in Sydney on Wednesday.

The former winger enjoyed a distinguished NRL career, making a combined 237 appearances for the Rabbitohs and the Sharks in the NRL, scoring 154 tries.

South Sydney great Nathan Merritt has been hit by an apprehended violence order 

The former NRL star, 41, is due to appear in court on Wednesday over the AVO which was filed by police on behalf of his wife

It comes after Merritt was rushed to hospital and placed on life support after the former Rabbitohs star was found unconscious in his aunt’s home

He would also feature for the New South Wales Blues during the 2013 Origin Series while also notably winning the premiership with the Souths in 2014, the same year he retired from professional footy.

In 2023, Merritt was rushed to hospital and placed on life support after the former Rabbitohs star was found unconscious in his aunt’s home.

The Bunnies legend was placed in a coma in hospital but made a full recovery, admitting he was ‘lucky to be alive’ after claiming he had come down with a double bout of pneumonia.

Josh Addo-Carr, who recently signed for Paramatta after being let go by the Bulldogs, and ex-league great Anthonie Mundie visited the ex-Souths star in hospital.

Merritt, who had been crowned the NRL’s top try scorer in three seasons, had thanked his wife and his kids during his retirement announcement back in 2014.

‘I absolutely love playing for South Sydney, it’s been a dream of mine since I was a little kid jumping the fence at Redfern Oval to watch guys like Mario Fenech and Craig Coleman run around,’ he said at the time.

‘I want to thank my wonderful wife Faith and my kids … my coaches and teammates right from my first game for the Alexandria Rovers to today at the Rabbitohs.’

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South Sydney Rabbitohs great to face court as he is hit with AVO application by his wife

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