NRL star Wicks faces drug supply charges
December 16, 2009 - 7:04PM
AAP
The NRL career of promising young Newcastle Knights player Danny Wicks is in tatters after he was among four people charged over a northern NSW drug syndicate.
In the latest off-field scandal to rock rugby league, Wicks faces eight counts of supplying and possessing illegal drugs, including ecstasy and amphetamines.
During the 24-year-old's appearance in Newcastle Local Court on Wednesday, his lawyer Mark Hanlon said Wicks intended to plead not guilty to the charges.
Magistrate Sharon Holdsworth granted Wicks bail, despite police prosecutor Jillian Kelton submitting he was a "flight risk".
However, late on Wednesday, Wicks still faced the prospect of a night behind bars after failing to come up with a $30,000 surety.
Outside court, Mr Hanlon said Wicks was holding up well and was delighted to have been granted bail.
"He's got bail. We're just waiting for the money. Hopefully, that should be here by this afternoon, but at this hour it may not be," he told reporters.
"I hope to see him on Friday for more instructions and at this stage he is going to fight the charges."
The Newcastle Knights have stood Wicks down indefinitely as a result of the charges.
A 25-year-old woman and a 22-year-old man were also arrested in connection with the alleged drug ring at a separate address in Grafton on Wednesday.
They each face five charges of supplying drugs and were bailed to appear before the Grafton Local Court on January 25.
A 29-year-old man from Newcastle was arrested during the same investigation and charged with one count of supplying drugs.
Wicks is charged with six counts of supplying prohibited drugs and two counts of possessing a prohibited drug.
In opposing his bail, the prosecutor said police had recordings of coded phone conversations and had conducted surveillance between August and November this year.
"We believe the crown case is a strong one," Ms Kelton told the court.
However, Mr Hanlon successfully argued his client's high profile in the community negated any chance of him fleeing.
The magistrate imposed bail conditions, including that Wicks surrender his passport and report daily to Charlestown police station.
He has also been ordered not to contact his three co-accused or former flatmate and Knights teammate Chris Houston, who is expected to be called as witness in the case.
The matter was adjourned to the same court for mention on February 3.
Police said the arrests flowed from a joint operation targeting the supply of amphetamines, cocaine and ecstasy in the Clarence Valley on the NSW north coast.
Wicks, a prop and second rower who made his NRL debut for the St George-Illawarra Dragons in 2006, signed with Newcastle in 2007 and is contracted to the club until the end of 2012.
Newcastle chief executive Steve Burraston says the club's suspension takes effect immediately.
This appears to mean Wicks will not play for the club until the case has been decided by the courts, which could take more than a year.
"These allegations are of the most serious nature, and we are treating them accordingly," Mr Burraston said in a statement before Wicks' court appearance.
"Everyone at the club is aware of our values and policies and is aware of how important they are to our relationship with all stakeholders."
The swift action was necessary to protect the reputation of the club and its sponsors, he said.
