Young Raiders winger faces charges
The Canberra Raiders have suffered a second post-season controversy with young winger Sam Huihahau arrested after allegedly sparking a brawl between rival supporters at a Brisbane rugby union grand final.
Huihahau, 21, is due to appear at the Brisbane Magistrates Court on Wednesday on two charges stemming from the ugly off-field incident at Ballymore on September 20.
The brawl on the Ballymore Hill involved dozens of supporters from both Premier Grade grand final combatants Souths and Brothers.
Souths obtained unseen television footage in conducting an investigation which the club has declared cleared their players of blame.
A spectator has alleged Huihahau, who attended Ballymore to support a cousin playing in a lower grade decider, punched a Brothers fan on the hill, leading to the wild brawl.
He was charged with disorderly conduct and removal from a licensed premises and was given bail to appear in court on October 7.
The former South Sydney junior is yet to make his NRL debut for the Raiders after spending the year with feeder club Souths Logan in the Queensland Cup.
Raiders officials were unaware of the charges when contacted by AAP on Monday.
"It's the first I've heard of it," said Raiders football manager Jason Malthie. "He's with Souths Logan and normally we keep a close eye on our players up there."
The matter has emerged more than two weeks after star five-eighth Terry Campese and Canberra teammate Adrian Purtell were fined $550 after being arrested outside a Queanbeyan hotel, ironically on the same weekend.
In a career beset by season-ending injuries, the strong-running Huihahau has played just two NRL matches, for the Rabbitohs in 2008.
He ended the 2009 season in Souths Logan reserve grade side which was knocked out of the FOGS Cup semi-finals on August 29.
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