Former NRL and Wallabies star Wendell Sailor required nine police officers to be restrained after a series of alcohol-fuelled incidents, a court has heard.
Wendell Sailor, 51, appeared before Sydney’s Downing Centre Local Court on Monday after pleading guilty to multiple charges stemming from separate incidents in Sydney and Wollongong.
Court documents revealed police were called following an incident at the Illawarra Master Builders Club in Wollongong on December 5, 2025, where Sailor had been drinking heavily.
After leaving the venue, he was removed from a taxi for being aggressive towards the driver. Officers later found him stumbling and swaying in the roadway.
Police alleged that he smelled strongly of alcohol and was slurring his words when approached.
When directed to move for his own safety, Sailor became argumentative and began abusing officers.
Nine police officers were required to restrain Wendell Sailor after he became aggressive during a drunken incident in Wollongong
Sailor was found allegedly stumbling in traffic after being removed from a taxi for aggressive behaviour towards the driver
Police alleged the former NRL star smelled strongly of alcohol and was slurring his words during the confrontation
As police attempted to arrest him, the former rugby league international allegedly tensed his arms and braced himself against a police vehicle to avoid being handcuffed.
It took nine officers to eventually restrain him and place him into custody.
Even after being transported to the police station, Sailor refused to exit the vehicle, requiring multiple officers to intervene before he could be moved into a custody area.
‘The accused continued to act aggressively and abused police repeatedly. Due to the aggressive and hostile nature of the accused, it was deemed a safety risk to allow him to leave his dock,’ court documents stated.
The Wollongong incident occurred while Sailor was on bail over an earlier matter at Pappy’s Bar in Sydney’s CBD on November 6, 2024.
On that occasion, Sailor became agitated during an interaction with another patron and was asked to leave the venue multiple times due to his level of intoxication.
When staff threatened to call police, Sailor responded: ‘F***ing call the cops and see what happens.’
Sailor continued to act aggressively in custody, allegedly refusing to exit the police car and abusing officers repeatedly
Sailor has pleaded guilty to multiple charges including intimidation, resisting police and failing to leave licensed premises
His lawyer is seeking to have charges dismissed on mental health grounds, with sentencing pending if the application fails
‘Do you know who I am? You’re f***ing done.’
Police arrived shortly after and began speaking with him outside before he ran after a man he believed was trying to fight him.
Officers called for backup as they worked to bring him under control.
He has pleaded guilty to remaining near a licensed premises after being asked to leave, intimidation, and resisting police.
His lawyer told the court an application would be made to have the charges dismissed on mental health grounds, supported by a psychiatric report.
If that application is unsuccessful when heard later this week, Sailor will be sentenced.
The court was also told the former dual-code international is going through a difficult separation from his wife of nearly three decades.
Sailor represented Australia in both rugby league and rugby union, finishing as the top try-scorer in the Kangaroos’ 2000 Rugby League World Cup campaign.
He later played 37 Tests for the Wallabies, including the 2003 World Cup final, and ended his NRL career in 2009 after 222 games with the Brisbane Broncos and St George Illawarra.
