Canberra Raiders fullback Jack Wighton has pleaded guilty to assaulting five men and urinating in public on a night out celebrating his birthday in February.
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Wighton entered the pleas in the ACT Magistrates Court on Thursday morning to two charges of assault occasioning actual bodily harm, three counts of common assault, and one charge of public urination.
Seven other charges were withdrawn. The Raiders stood down Wighton on Thursday afternoon and his immediate playing future hangs in the balance.
The 25-year-old will miss Canberra's crucial NRL clash against the Brisbane Broncos on Saturday night and it's unclear how long he will be unavailable for selection.
Raiders chief executive Don Furner spent most of Thursday working with the NRL integrity unit about whether the club or the league would impose any sanctions.
The Raiders threw their support behind Wighton when he appeared in court in April, saying he would be available to play until the conclusion of court proceedings.
Wighton initially pleaded not guilty to three charges of reckless or intentionally inflicting actual bodily harm, five counts of common assault, and urinating in a public place.
The matter had been scheduled to go to hearing next month, but Thursday's unexpected pleas mean that date has now been vacated.
Magistrate Bernadette Boss referred Wighton to the Galambany Court for assessment as to his eligibility for circle sentencing. The Galambany Court is a specialised court of Aboriginal offenders, within the ACT Magistrates Court.
Wighton will be assessed next week, and reappear before Dr Boss on July 6. Raiders chief executive Don Furner attended court with Wighton, as well as defence barrister Jason Moffett.
The court heard Wighton had a clean record. The maximum penalty for assault occasioning actual bodily harm is a five year jail sentence.
The Raiders fullback flew back from the team's camp on the Gold Coast on Wednesday night, where they're preparing for their crucial clash against the Brisbane Broncos at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday.
He flew back north to join his teammates on Thursday and was spotted boarding a flight before midday.
The alleged assaults were on five different men, two of whom are listed as unknown, and it is believed Wighton was celebrating his birthday with friends before the incidents outside a Civic nightclub on February 3.
It is understood ACT Policing have examined CCTV footage of the alleged incident involving Wighton after officers received reports of three assaults between 2.45am and 3am near Bible Lane before attending a disturbance about 3.10am at the intersection of Mort and Bunda streets.
The matter will return to court next week.
