Moment by moment, how NRL premiership hero Jake Friend’s drunken row with his wife sparked a dramatic police hunt to stop him taking his own life – before five officers wrestled him to the ground
Retired NRL player Jake Friend was taken to hospital as an involuntary patient after a drunken argument with his wife and comments that led police to fear he might take his own life. The case highlights the crisis response to a serious welfare concern and the steps Friend has taken since.
Friend, 36, captained the Sydney Roosters and won three NRL premierships. The incident began at the couple’s Hunters Hill home in Sydney at about 12.30am on 5 December last year; police arrived at 2.18am after two calls to emergency services and later restrained him with five officers. Since then, he has stopped drinking, attended family counselling, volunteered at a soup kitchen and seen a psychiatrist; a judge accepted that his actions arose from his condition while intoxicated rather than a crime.
In short
- Jake Friend was hospitalised after a drunken welfare crisis.
- Police restrained him with five officers.
- He has since stopped drinking and sought support.
Explained simply
Jake Friend is a former rugby league player who captained the Sydney Roosters, an NRL club, and won three premierships with them. The NRL is Australia’s top rugby league competition. Friend’s public profile has brought attention to the police response to a serious welfare concern involving him.
In New South Wales, police may take someone to hospital for assessment if they believe the person is at risk of harming themselves. The incident also raises questions about how alcohol, mental health and family distress can intersect, and about the support available to people in crisis.