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SYDNEY - Former Junior Kiwi John Te Reo has lost his contract with the Brisbane Broncos as police investigate his alleged involvement in an assault.
Broncos forward Ian Lacey, 22, was yesterday charged with assault occasioning grievous bodily harm of a 32-year-old man in central Brisbane early on Saturday. He was granted bail in Brisbane Magistrates Court, ahead of a committal hearing in January.
Te Reo, 21, from Wellington, was named in court as a second person of interest, but had not been interviewed by police or formally charged last night.
Broncos' managing director Bruno Cullen said the NRL club had held an extensive internal investigation and decided both Te Reo and Lacey had breached the code of conduct in their player contracts.
Cullen said the Broncos made the decision to cut both players after seeking legal advice to ensure it would not prejudice Lacey's committal hearing, which has been set down for January.
Te Reo has reportedly returned to New Zealand as part of a preplanned holiday.
Cullen urged him to return to Brisbane. The 1.82m, 90kg hooker grew up in league heartland in Wainuiomata and played two matches for the Junior Kiwis.
He forced his way into the Broncos' NRL squad after a storming 2006 season in the secondary Queensland Cup competition.
Te Reo made his NRL debut in March against the New Zealand Warriors but played just one other match in the top grade this season.
Queensland police refused to comment further on the allegations, or say whether Te Reo was being sought in New Zealand.
Police allege Te Reo and Lacey chased a man from the Victory Hotel to the corner of Charlotte and Eagle Sts about 4.30am on Saturday.
Witnesses reported seeing the man fall to the ground after being struck. He has a suspected fractured skull and bleeding on the brain and is in a Brisbane hospital under observation.
The incident occurred just hours after the Broncos' annual presentation dinner. Police prosecutors did not oppose Lacey's bail, but requested he be banned from contacting Te Reo or the complainant.
- NZPA
