Raiders hooker Tom Starling charged with five counts of assaulting police after alleged altercationon Central Coast

Starling was one of four men charged following a brawl at Shady Palms Bar Restaurant at Kincumber at 10.45 on Saturday night.

He was at a function with his family, celebrating the 21st birthday of Fletcher Watson, the younger brother of Knights star Connor Watson.

Watson was also there with his family, as well as Knights team-mates Kalyn Ponga and Jack Johns.

None of the Knights players were involved in the alleged altercation with police.

The Newcastle Herald understands they followed the correct protocols and informed Knights officials of the incident late on Saturday night. The club is not commenting.

According to Canberra sources, Starling, who made his NRL debut for the Knights in the final round of the 2018 season before joining the Raiders, went to the aid of his brother before a brawl allegedly broke out.

Police claim they had been called by bar security to assist in dealing with another patron who had refused to leave the premises. By the time they got there, the patron had left, however security soon became involved in an altercation with a second person they say failed to leave the licensed premises.

It was after he was arrested and was being escorted out that, according to police, Starling and two other men, aged 20 and 24, allegedly became aggressive and assaulted police numerous times in an attempt to intervene.

All four men were arrested following assistance from the riot squad, with the remainder of the group charged with similar offences to Starling.

All four were granted conditional bail to appear at Gosford Local Court on January 21. Starling is facing a total of seven charges including five of assaulting a police officer, affray and resisting or hindering an officer.

He spent the night in lock-up before being released on Sunday morning, emerging from Gosford police station with a blackened eye and cuts and abrasions to his face before seeking medical treatment.

The NRL Integrity Unit is now working with police to investigate.

The Raiders issued a brief statement on Sunday saying they had been made aware of an incident involving Starling and had informed the NRL integrity unit.

Starling, along with the bulk of the Raiders' playing group, was due to start pre-season training at the club's Braddon headquarters on Monday.

It would seem unlikely the 22-year-old will be in attendance.

The black mark is a huge blow to the diminutive hooker, who had a breakout season with the Raiders this year after he was unwanted at the Knights at the end of 2018.

After coming through Newcastle's junior ranks, he debuted off the bench for the Knights in the NRL in their final round loss to St George Illawarra at McDonald Jones Stadium but didn't feature in then coach Nathan Brown's plans for 2019.

He was all set to play for Burleigh Heads in the Queensland Cup when Canberra came knocking.

He was signed by Raiders recruitment guru Peter Mulholland on the recommendation of Mick Potter to fill a void in the hooking ranks.

He spent the majority of his first season with the club in the NSW Cup competition before earning another one-year deal for 2020.

It was after the season-ending knee injury to Josh Hodgson that Starling was handed an extended opportunity in the top grade by coach Ricky Stuart and he took it with both hands.

He earned a new two-year deal as the Raiders made the finals and finished a game short of reaching their second straight grandfinal.

Starling's arrest marks the second time this year a Raiders player has faced police charges following Curtis Scott's unlawful arrest on January 27.

IN THE NEWS