Sister of Raiders Star Cleared in Rugby League Brawl Nose Break Case
The sister of a prominent Canberra Raiders player has been acquitted of charges that she repeatedly punched a woman and broke her nose during a heated rugby league match brawl.
Crystal Sarafina Aloalo Papali'i, aged 24, faced a hearing in the ACT Magistrates Court on Friday, January 23, 2026, where special magistrate Sean Richter delivered a not guilty verdict for assault occasioning actual bodily harm.
Magistrate's Ruling on CCTV Evidence
Magistrate Richter stated that after meticulously reviewing CCTV footage of the incident, slowed down, zoomed in, and examined frame by frame, he could not be satisfied that Papali'i had punched the complainant as alleged.
"The footage is quite dramatic and appears to show that the alleged victim was elbowed in the face as part of the melee in which both players participated," Richter explained in his findings.
He emphasised that the injury seemed to have occurred when the alleged victim "cops an elbow in the face" while taking Papali'i to the ground during the altercation.
Background of the On-Field Incident
The alleged assaults took place in Kippax during a match between the West Belconnen Warriors and the Bungendore Kangaroos, part of the Katrina Fanning Shield competition.
Papali'i was playing for the West Belconnen Warriors at the time. Prosecutor Harry Wagner had alleged that during the July 2024 match, Papali'i had been sin-binned before a player from the opposing team was assaulted.
It was claimed that Papali'i then ran onto the field and attempted to punch that person, leading to the alleged victim pulling her to the ground. Wagner contended that once on the ground, Papali'i punched the alleged victim twice in the face, resulting in a broken nose.
Defence Arguments and Witness Testimony
Defence lawyer Tiffany Wilken argued that her client denied punching the alleged victim at any time during the incident.
Wilken pointed to two eyewitnesses who gave evidence to the court, stating they were "very clear that they had a clear view of the entirety of the conduct and that the punches didn't occur."
In a recorded police interview played during proceedings, the alleged victim described the incident, saying "adrenaline very much took over, I didn't really feel the punches at all when they were happening."
She characterised the alleged punches as "short and sharp" and noted that "it was not like she lined up for a massive swing, it was one after the other."
Previous Family Connection to Similar Incident
This case marks the second time a family member of Canberra Raiders star Josh Papali'i has been involved in legal proceedings related to this particular rugby league match.
In June 2025, Josh Papali'i's wife, Mesepa Salesa, was convicted after attacking a 17-year-old at the same match. Salesa received a 15-month good behaviour order and was banned from attending all community rugby league matches in the capital for ten years following an investigation by Canberra Region Rugby League.
Her attempts to have two admitted counts of common assault dismissed on mental health grounds or through non-conviction orders were unsuccessful.
The acquittal of Crystal Papali'i brings closure to this particular case while highlighting the ongoing scrutiny of on-field conduct in community rugby league competitions.
