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NRL Warriors v Broncos Where: McLean Park, Napier. When: Saturday, May 27, 7.30pm. Coverage: Live Sky Sport 4, live updates on Stuff from 7.10pm.
Son of former Broncos star Wendell Sailor, Tristan Sailor, will return to the NRL for the first time since 2020 against the Warriors on Saturday night.
Sailor, who made his NRL debut for the Dragons in 2019, will replace former Warrior Reece Walsh in a depleted Broncos side missing their regular fullback plus winger Selwyn Cobbo, props Payne Haas, Thomas Flegler and lock Patrick Carrigan, who will all be missing for Saturday night’s round 13 clash against the Warriors due to State of Origin duty.
Sailor’s road back to the top flight has been a long and troubled journey after he was stood down in as part of the NRL’s ‘no fault’ stand-down policy after being charged with two counts of aggravated sexual assault following an alleged incident with a woman in October, 2020.
At the end of a month-long trial, that was set down for just a week, Sailor was acquitted of both charges in March last year.
He recently told The Courier-Mail how much the process has changed him and the toll it took on his family. Sailor faced the prospect of up to 20 years in prison had he found guilty.
“I don’t know how I dealt with it,” he said.
“After an hour or so we got told they wanted us in, but we thought it was just a jury question. As we stepped in they said there was a verdict.
Paul Kane/Getty Images
Tristan Sailor will finally make his return to the NRL against the Warriors after almost three years out of the game.
“I smiled at Mum and Dad because I knew they were struggling the most. When they said the decision (not guilty) it was a big relief. I was all right, but Dad was bawling the loudest and Mum was obviously very upset too.
“It was just that relief. It didn’t really kick in until a couple of weeks after. You get into that mindset of powering through it,” Sailor told The Courier-Mail.
“I couldn’t even process it at the time. It wasn’t until a couple of weeks later that I clicked into it and thought about what’s next. I could get on with life.”
Away from rugby league, the now 24-year-old was already moving on.
During his exile from the game, Sailor had worked 10-hour days as a barista in a bookstore cafe and labouring on construction sites.
But he also began studying towards an unlikely career that piqued a long-held interest in law during the legal process.
Having already studied a commerce degree and a bachelor of arts, Sailor is now enroled in a Juris Doctor of Law at Griffith University – a postgraduate degree which will pave the way for him to practise law, The Courier-Mail reported.
“It’s something that’s stayed with me from that. It’s something I could see myself doing afterwards. I like the way you can help people and advocate for them.
“I saw my barrister, the high-value morals and ethics he had, and how intelligent he was. I could see myself doing that,” he told The Courier-Mail.
And then came the final piece of the puzzle, when Sailor found his way back to Brisbane and eventually back to the club where he watched his father score 110 tries in 189 games for the Broncos.
Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images
With former Warrior Reece Walsh in the Queensland State of Origin side, Tristan Sailor gets his opportunity to return to the NRL.
“Dad won a few grand finals here and there are photos of me as a little kid with him after they won a grand final.
“It’s always been in my blood. I’ve always been very fond of the Broncos. It’s been awesome to come in here,” he said.
Stuck behind Walsh after winning a full-time NRL contract in 2023, Sailor now gets his chance for the high-flying Broncos.
He has played nine games for Souths-Logan in the Queensland Cup this season, all at fullback.
Getting back on the park at NRL level will complete a remarkable comeback but also a fitting one as another Sailor dons the famous Broncos jersey.
With the five superstars missing from Kevin Walters’ side, the Warriors are currently $1.41 head-to-head favourites against Brisbane’s $2.80, despite the Broncos sitting in fourth and the Warriors back in seventh on the NRL ladder.
AT A GLANCE
Broncos: Tristan Sailor, Jesse Arthars, Kotoni Staggs, Herbie Farnworth, Deine Mariner, Ezra Mam, Adam Reynolds, Keenan Palasia, Billy Walters, Corey Jensen, Kurt Capewell, Jordan Riki, Kobe Hetherington. Interchange: Cory Paix, Xavier Willison, Brendan Piakura, Martin Taupau. Reserves: Jock Madden, Tyson Smoothy, Delouise Hoeter, Israel Leota, Benjamin Te Kura.
Warriors: Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, Rocco Berry, Adam Pompey, Marcelo Montoya, Luke Metcalf, Shaun Johnson; Addin Fonua-Blake, Freddy Lussick, Bunty Afoa, Jackson Ford, Marata Niukore, Tohu Harris (c). Interchange: Bayley Sironen, Josh Curran, Demitric Sifakula, Tom Ale. Reserves: Ronald Volkman, Taine Tuaupiki, Ali Leiataua, Kalani Going, Zyon Mai’u.
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