Former Australian and NSW Blues forward Trent Merrin has avoided a criminal conviction after appearing in court and pleading guilty to a fraud offence involving cryptocurrency.
Merrin, who retired from the NRL in 2021, admitted to dishonestly obtaining a financial advantage by deception after taking approximately $140,000 worth of cryptocurrency from another individual.
Despite the guilty plea, the former Kangaroos representative was spared a conviction and instead received a conditional release order without conviction for a period of 18 months.
The matter was heard in court this week, where Magistrate Douglass outlined the seriousness of the offence while stopping short of recording a conviction.
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“My role as magistrate is heavily weighted in relation to punishment, deterrence and making someone accountable for their actions,” the magistrate said.
“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,” Magistrate Douglass explained.
Merrin’s legal team argued the former footballer had not intended to permanently deprive the victim of funds and had since taken steps to rectify the situation, with his lawyer Paul McGirr telling the court Merrin had repaid the money, along with additional funds and interest.
“My client wasn’t trying to hide anything. He never wanted to permanently deprive and wants to rekindle things with his very good mate,” McGirr said.
Merrin played 225 NRL games across two stints with the St George Illawarra Dragons and later the Penrith Panthers, winning a premiership with the Dragons in 2010.
He was a key figure for both clubs and built a reputation as a powerful, high-workrate forward with elite offloading ability, earning 13 appearances for New South Wales and seven Tests for Australia during a highly decorated career.
Since retiring from the game, Merrin has remained active in football and business circles, launching player mentoring venture Azure Partners and co-hosting the podcast The Lost Boys alongside Jake Marketo.
The conditional release order means Merrin will avoid a conviction provided he complies with the court’s conditions over the next 18 months.
It brings the legal chapter of Merrin’s post-playing life to a close, while serving as a sobering reminder of the off-field challenges many rugby league players can face after retirement.