Siosifa Talaki is issued with arrest warrant for court no-show but he IS free to play this weekend

Front Page News

A Sydney magistrate has issued a warrant for the arrest of Cronulla star Siosifa Talakai for failing to attend court to answer a minor driving charge on Friday.

According to the Daily Telegraph, the Sharks centre was charged with driving on an expired licence in Caringbah, in Sydney’s southern suburbs, on May 13.

Talakai was due to appear at Sutherland Local Court late on Friday morning, but failed to show up. 

Siosifa Talakai was issued with an arrest warrant by  a Sydney magistrate on Friday

Siosifa Talakai was issued with an arrest warrant by  a Sydney magistrate on Friday 

As a result, magistrate Roger Prowse issued an arrest warrant for the 25-year-old, even though the maximum fine for the charge is $2,200.

In a bizarre turn of events, the Sharks told the Telegraph they were unaware of the court case before summoning a legal team to overturn the decision.

Their bid proved successful as Magistrate Hugh Donnelly revoked the warrant and adjourned the case to June 23 after the court reconvened in the afternoon.

The Sharks described Talakai’s no-show as an ‘oversight’, explaining he had ‘not realised’ he was due to appear in court.

The 25-year-old was due to appear at Sutherland Local Court over a minor driving charge

The 25-year-old was due to appear at Sutherland Local Court over a minor driving charge

But he failed to show up and was issued with an arrest warrant, which was subsequently revoked as the case was adjourned until June 23 after the Sharks legal team intervened

But he failed to show up and was issued with an arrest warrant, which was subsequently revoked as the case was adjourned until June 23 after the Sharks legal team intervened

Talakai has enjoyed a breakout year for the Sharks, scoring five tries in 12 games this season

Talakai has enjoyed a breakout year for the Sharks, scoring five tries in 12 games this season 

Having told the hard-running centre he would not fly to Queensland for Sunday’s clash against the Warriors in Redcliffe as a precautionary measure, Cronulla reversed the decision after the case was adjourned.

Talakai was scheduled to take a late flight to Brisbane to rejoin his teammates ahead of Sunday’s game.  

The former South Sydney player has enjoyed a breakout year so far, scoring five tries in 12 appearances and racking up an average of 165 running metres per game, six line breaks and 12 line break assists.

Talakai’s hard running style has proved pivotal for the Sharks, who sit sixth on the NRL ladder with a 7-5 record after failing to make the finals last season.  

ncG1vNJzZmhqZGy7psPSmqmorZ6Zwamx1qippZxemLyue8Keo56aXZy2tMCOsJirqpGjwW6yzqtknKCinsCmrc1mqaibm6h6or7RnqqtZZmowLaxw2adqKpdpb%2BwrsCtoKimXau2sLjAraCopl8%3D