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SYDNEY - Former Junior Kiwis rugby league player John Te Reo's future at the Brisbane Broncos club is under a cloud as police investigate his alleged involvement in an assault.
Broncos forward Ian Lacey, 22, was today 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 is yet to be interviewed by police or formally charged.
He is reportedly in New Zealand on a pre-planned holiday.
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' National Rugby League (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.
According to his player profile in the NRL media guide, Te Reo's family friends include All Blacks Tana Umaga and Piri Weepu.
Queensland police today 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 streets about 4.30am local time 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 remains 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.
Outside court, Lacey's solicitor Campbell MacCallum said his client would be fighting the charges and was concerned for the person who had been injured.
Broncos managing director Bruno Cullen said the club was aware of the allegations.
"We have been informed that two of our players were allegedly involved in an incident early on Saturday morning," Cullen told the Courier Mail.
"It is now a matter for the police and we will take whatever action we deem necessary when their investigations are completed."
- NZPA
