NSW Police have intervened in the personal life of former NRL star and premiership-winning captain Jake Friend, applying for an Apprehended Violence Order (AVO) in relation to his relationship with his wife.
The AVO application has been made on behalf of his long-term partner, although police have confirmed that no criminal charges have been laid against the former Sydney Roosters hooker.
Friend is scheduled to appear before Burwood Local Court on Thursday, where the matter will be formally addressed. The development has sent shockwaves through the rugby league community, given Friend’s standing as one of the most respected figures of the modern Roosters era.
Since being forced into retirement in 2021 due to repeated concussions, the former Australian and Queensland representative had transitioned into a coaching role at the Roosters, where he was leading the club’s pathways program and mentoring emerging talent. His move into coaching was widely seen as a natural progression following his decorated playing career.
Over a distinguished 14-year NRL career, Friend played 264 games for the Roosters, captained the club, and won three premierships, establishing himself as one of the elite dummy-halves of his generation. He also represented both Australia and Queensland at the highest level.
However, his career included early controversy. In 2009, Friend was sacked by the Roosters following a series of off-field incidents, before later reviving his career and returning to become a central figure in the club’s most successful era.
The Sydney Roosters and the NRL have not yet issued public statements on the matter as legal proceedings continue.
