Brawl halts youngster David Leapai's NRL dream 
HE'S the shy halfback who tried to break up a wild junior rugby league brawl, now David Leapai's harmless actions have ruined his NRL career before it even started.
Leapai, 17, was one of 58 junior league players banned from the sport for 12 months or more following two grand final brawls last month.
The Waterford player has been signed to the Canberra Raiders since he was 15.
He was moving to Canberra permanently in November to begin training with the Raiders' elite development squad in the hope of cracking the Toyota Cup and eventually the NRL.
Now his dreams are in tatters because of the Greater Brisbane Junior Rugby League's hardline stance over ugly fights on their gala grand final day.
Leapai has also lost tertiary education scholarships the NRL provides for teenagers, despite witnesses stating the only role he played in the brawl was trying to break it up.
Every member of Leapai's Waterford under-18 division 1 team was banned for 12 months, with one player banned for life, after a brawl with their rivals Redcliffe on September 15.
Source: http://www.couriermail.com.au/sport/nrl/brawl-halts-youngster-david-leapais-nrl-dream/story-e6frep5x-1226493568186
Topic: Brawl Puts Toyota Cup and NRL Dream on Hold for Young Raider
