Strike three: Seu Seu facing sack from Knights over drink-driving
By BRETT KEEBLE
PROMISING Newcastle Knights hooker Terence Seu Seu faces the sack from the National Rugby League club after being charged early yesterday for mid-range drink-driving.
Seu Seu was stopped by police about 1am yesterday on Bridges Rd, New Lambton.
The 20-year-old former New Zealand A representative, who made his debut in round one last season and went on to play 10 NRL games, is already defending an assault charge arising from an alcohol-related nightclub incident in August last year that is still before the courts. Prior to that, he was suspended for one game and fined by the Knights for an incident last Easter in which he was asked to leave licensed premises then missed training the next day.
Seu Seu, who played in Newcastle's NRL and NSW Cup trials against Cronulla at Cessnock on Saturday night, would not comment when contacted yesterday by The Herald.
But Knights chief executive Steve Burraston said: "Terence was arrested last night and charged with mid-range drink-driving.
"It's a serious offence, and we'll treat it in a serious and appropriate manner. I'll meet with the board executive [today], and we'll collect all the information we can and obviously give Terence an opportunity to present his side of the story.
"We'll gather all the facts and make a recommendation to the full board for a decision, probably by the end of the week."
If the board considers this to be Seu Seu's third breach of the club's code of conduct, Burraston could be left with no alternative but to terminate the player's contract, which expires at the end of this season.
Burraston would not comment when asked what effect the drink-driving charge would have on Seu Seu's future at the Knights.
Appearing in Newcastle Local Court on October 17 last year, Seu Seu pleaded not guilty to assaulting a male staff member at Fanny's nightclub on August 26.
It was alleged Seu Seu punched bar worker Iulian Sicrea, who was also seeking a 12-month restraining order against Seu Seu to protect him, his girlfriend and his property, an application before the court said.
That case is listed for mention in Newcastle Local Court on May 19.
