Troubled ex-NRL star Wendell Sailor learns his fate in court following drunken incident in Wollongong
Cross-code legend Wendell Sailor has had criminal charges dismissed under mental health legislation – but was warned he must stay out of trouble.
The 51-year-old had pleaded guilty to three charges spanning six months, including resisting arrest and intimidation.
Sailor, 51, admitted to resisting arrest after a night of drinking at the Illawarra Master Builders Club in Wollongong on the NSW south coast on December 5 last year, court documents revealed.
It took nine officers to get the one-time dual international inside a custody area at a nearby police station, with court documents saying Sailor acted ‘aggressively’ and ‘abused police repeatedly’.
Sailor was bail at the time for an incident at Pappy’s Bar in Sydney’s CBD from November 2024, during which the winger became ‘aggressive and agitated’ with an unknown group.
‘F**king call the cops and see what happens. Do you know who I am? You’re f**king done,’ Sailor shouted at the bar manager when asked to leave the venue.
Former NRL star Wendell Sailor has seen all his charges dismissed following his ‘hostile’ behaviour in another incident at a licensed venue
Sailor was cleared of all charges on Friday after magistrate Jennifer Atkinson found his issues with alcohol, which sparked both incidents, were related to his mental health struggles.
The Broncos great has been on medication for several months to treat both depression and alcoholism, the magistrate revealed.
He will now carry out a treatment plan with his GP to address his mental health and alcohol issues.
Last December, the former Triple M identity was charged after an incident that began when police received reports of Sailor yelling and standing in the middle of a busy Wollongong road at around 11pm.
Sailor spent the night behind bars after being arrested and charged with allegedly breaching bail, obstructing traffic and resisting arrest.
Daily Mail understands Sailor is separating from his wife of almost 30 years.
The man affectionately known as ‘Dell’ represented Australia in both rugby codes, and was the top try-scorer when the Kangaroos won the Rugby League World Cup in 2000.
Sailor also crossing 13 times in 37 games for the Wallabies, which included starting in the 2003 World Cup final against England.
He finished his 222-game NRL career in 2009 after nine seasons with the Brisbane Broncos – where he won four premierships – and two seasons with St George Illawarra.
