- Rabbitohs legend Nathan Merritt brawled with three men
- Unfolded at Madison Hotel in Surry Hills last February
Troubled ex-NRL star Nathan Merritt was involved in a street brawl in February last year which left other people in the vicinity ‘fear for their safety.’
Merritt, 42, got in a fight outside a Sydney sports bar with multiple men that left him bloodied and knocked to the ground, court documents revealed.
The former South Sydney winger was at the Madison Hotel in Surry Hills on February 16, 2025 when an altercation started between Merritt and a group of men he didn’t know.
Merritt was left bleeding from the head and mouth with a ripped shirt following the incident.
‘(Mr Merritt) did use unlawful violence towards (one) unknown victim by conduct such that a person of reasonable firmness, if present at the scene, would have feared for their safety,’ court documents stated.
The fight was sparked after security attempted to remove an unknown man from the venue about 6am, a statement of agreed facts revealed.
Troubled former NRL star Nathan Merritt was involved in a street brawl in February last year which left other people in the vicinity ‘fear for their safety’ (pictured, playing for South Sydney in 2014)
The former South Sydney winger was at the Madison Hotel in Surry Hills on February 16, 2025 when an altercation erupted started between Merritt and a group of men he didn’t know (he is pictured, with rapper Snoop Dogg)
The man instigated a physical altercation with a group unknown to Merritt on Chalmers and Devonshire St.
He then targeted Merritt, gesturing ‘aggressively’ at the former Rabbitohs player.
He managed to break free from the security guards and advanced towards Merritt, who himself ran at the man.
The ex-winger threw one punch before he was knocked to the ground outside the Royal Exhibition Hotel.
Merritt’s shirt was torn by a second man who punched him in the head.
He was then captured on CCTV approaching the two men, with one again punching the South Sydney legend in the head.
A third man also punched Merritt before security intervened.
Merritt was arrested and cautioned at Mascot Police Station two days later when police asked him to present himself.
Ex Rabbitohs star Nathan Merritt was allegedly caught drink-driving in April last year
He has pleaded guilty to one count of affray, with the matter next due before the Downing Centre Local Court on February 11.
It comes as Merritt was caught drink-driving in April of 2025 in Sydney’s inner-west and also was charged by police after he allegedly assaulted his wife outside a licensed venue last year.
Additionally, Merritt was rushed to hospital in 2023 and placed on life support after he was found unconscious in his aunt’s home.
He had claimed he had come down with a double bout of pneumonia and added he was ‘lucky to be alive’ after being placed in a coma.
