NSW Police investigate officers involved in violent arrest of NRL star Tom Starling

Police are investigating the conduct of officers involved in a violent confrontation with NRL star Tom Starling on the NSW Central Coast.

The 25-year-old Canberra Raiders hooker was cleared of any wrongdoing at court earlier this year, more than two years after the bar brawl.

The court was told Starling and brothers Jackson, 26, and Josh, 21, were attending a 21st birthday party at Shady Palms hotel when the fight broke out.

CCTV footage played to the court showed Tom being punched repeatedly in the face by an officer as he stumbled backward from the force of the blows.

Josh testified in court during the 11-day trial that he was afraid police were “going to kill” his elder brother.

A NSW Police spokesperson confirmed on Wednesday that police were now investigating the conduct of some of the officers involved in the fracas.

“Investigators from Professional Standards Command are continuing to conduct inquiries in relation to the conduct of officers responding to an incident on the Central Coast on December 5, 2020,” the spokesperson said.

“As their inquiries are ongoing, no further information is available.”

The trio’s mother, Joanne Starling, told 2GB’s Ben Fordham on Wednesday that it had been a “tough few years” for the whole family.

“It has definitely taken a toll on us all (...) it turned our whole world upside down,” she said.

“I was there and I witnessed the majority of (the incident) and to see that on the front page of the news was just devastating.

“Both my husband and I have brought our three boys up to respect the police, they have never been in trouble with the law.”

Joanne told Fordham accusations Tom had tried to grab a firearm from police had nearly resulted in the NRL standing him down.

Canberra Raiders coach Ricky Stuart said he was frightened about those accusations when they surfaced, but was told by Tom that it did not happen.

In the weeks afterward, Ms Stuart said the club had “seen the big picture” and had supported Tom throughout the years-long court battle.

He complimented NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb’s decision to launch the investigation.

“Let it be clear, I am a police supporter,” he said.

“Tom has done a really good job getting through this and has had a lot of great support from his family.”

In February, magistrate Daniel Covington found Tom and Jackson were not guilty of resisting police in the execution of their duty.

Josh was also found not guilty of two counts of assaulting police in their duties but guilty of resisting police.

He was also found guilty of assaulting a security guard who had said something to his mother.

The magistrate did not convict Josh of either charge but instead imposed two 18-month good behaviour bonds.

The security guard has been charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm over the bloody brawl.