Warriors NRL star Josh Curran pleads guilty to assaulting 16-year-old in 3am nightclub attack

NRL star Josh Curran has successfully avoided a conviction despite pleading guilty to assaulting a 16-year-old in a nightclub toilet on the night of last year’s NRL grand final.

The Warriors backrower, 24, also saw serious charges of reckless grievous bodily harm and larceny withdrawn and dismissed in Port Macquarie Local Court on Monday.

The incident with the minor unfolded on October 2 last year at the Level Up Nightclub in Port Macquarie, on the NSW north coast.

Curran pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm and appeared before Magistrate Greg Grogin, with his defence lawyer Paul FC McGirr hailed his character and the fact his client has ‘never been in trouble before’.

McGirr described Curran as ‘well-known’ and raised a number of concerns about the ramifications of a conviction for the NRL star.

Port Macquarie Local Court heard Curran (right) noticed the teenager had been photographing and filming him without his consent – before he punched the minor 

The court heard Curran attended the nightclub last year with relatives, where he happily mingled with fellow clubbers.

The teen involved in the incident asked Curran to speak with him near the toilets in the nightclub between 3am and 3.30am as he was unable to hear him over the music.

When exchanging social media information to keep in contact, Curran noticed the young person had been photographing and filming him without his consent during the night.

‘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,’ Mr McGirr said.

He described the altercation – in a section of the nightclub where there is no CCTV – as ‘unfortunate’, but said it was an ‘isolated incident.’

Police prosecutor Sergeant Garry Rowe revealed the victim was ‘more than happy to not give evidence’ and it was in the hands of the Magistrate to impose a conviction.

Following the run-in with the teen, Curran left the nightclub with his relatives.

Magistrate Grogin said the incident should be a ‘wake-up call’ for the NRL star.

‘The eyes of the world are on you and wherever you go people are going to have mobile phones and will be filming you,’ he said.

The incident unfolded at a Port Macquarie nightclub, north of Sydney, on October 2 last year

‘While I find the offence proven, without opposition from the prosecution, you are not being convicted.’

Curran was placed on a conditional release order for a period of 12 months, during which he must be on good behaviour.

He will also replace the young person’s lost phone, Port News reported.

McGirr felt the outcome was just.

‘The magistrate and the police were extremely sensible in the way they dealt with this matter and that’s why he was given no conviction,’ he said.

‘Now Josh can move on with his life and do what he does best.’