SYDNEY Roosters’ preparations for tonight’s NRL game against Canterbury have been thrown into disarray after representative centre BJ Leilua was arrested following an incident at a St George hotel early Saturday morning.
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St George police crime manager Gary Ballard said Leilua, whose full name is Joseph Ikenasio Poiva Leilua Kelemete, was later charged with three offences including assault, breaching an AVO and a telecommunications offence.
Police allege the former St George Dragons junior spat on his former girlfriend after an argument at the Allawah Hotel on Saturday about 1.30am.
‘‘He was then taken out of the hotel by security and a number of text messages [were] received after the fight,’’ Detective Inspector Ballard said.
‘‘It will also be alleged that the man sent personal photos of the woman via his mobile phone to other people,’’ a police media spokesman said.
Earlier this month the woman was granted a six month enforceable AVO.
The woman reported the matter to St George police on Saturday and Leilua handed himself into Kogarah police station where he was arrested and charged on Saturday night, police said.
He was refused bail to appear at Parramatta Bail Court on Sunday.
Leilua was granted bail yesterday and is expected to face Kogarah Local Court in June.
Roosters chief executive Steve Noyce said Leilua would not play tonight.
Leilua’s arrest comes just days after he was drafted into NSW’s State of Origin squad as a shadow player.
