22 Mar 2012

Cowboys halfback suspended following assault charge

8:28 am on 22 March 2012

The North Queensland halfback Robert Lui has been stood down indefinitely by the National Rugby League club after pleading guilty to an assault charge.

Lui was placed on a two-year good behaviour bond and fined $NZ 2500 in Sydney's Burwood Local Court yesterday for assaulting his girlfriend Taleah Rae Backo following Mad Monday celebrations in September last year.

The 22-year-old signed with the Cowboys last November, and has been taking part in counselling sessions since arriving in Townsville.

The Cowboys chief executive Peter Jourdain says it's not clear how long Lui - who came off the bench in the opening-round loss to Gold Coast - would remain suspended.

The NRL chief executive David Gallop says the Cowboys had little option but to stand Lui down.