LeagueNews.co | Cooper McEnroe
Trent Merrin, a former star forward for Australia and the NSW Blues, has avoided a criminal conviction after illicitly obtaining $140,000 in cryptocurrency from another person.
After pleading guilty to acquiring financial advantages through deception, Merrin was sentenced to an 18-month conditional release order, as reported by The Illawarra Mercury.
At the court hearing, Magistrate Douglass emphasized, "My role as magistrate, it's heavily weighted in relation to punishment, deterrence, making someone accountable for their actions." He added, "You could be a good vehicle to deter people ... if it's warranted, the media could be a good conduit. The courts will deal with you in a robust way."
Merrin retired from the NRL in 2021 after making 225 first-grade appearances for both the St George Illawarra Dragons and the Penrith Panthers in two separate stints. During his career, he was part of the Dragons' 2010 premiership-winning team, coming off the interchange bench, and represented the NSW Blues 13 times and the Australian Kangaroos 7 times.
Since retiring, he has launched 'Azure Partners' to assist other football players in navigating public scrutiny and has also started a podcast with Jake Marketo titled The Lost Boys.