NRL: Lockyer taunt sparked Marshall's attack, court told

A Sydney court has heard that Benji Marshall punched a man in the face because he said Broncos player Darren Lockyer was better than him. Photo / Getty Images

Rugby league star Benji Marshall punched a man in the face because he said Broncos player Darren Lockyer was better than him, a Sydney court has been told.

Alleged victim Soliman Naimey told Downing Centre Local Court today that he had been with friends at a McDonald's restaurant in Sydney's CBD early on March 5 this year when he heard Marshall was outside.

The Wests Tigers star and New Zealand captain is charged with assaulting Mr Naimey, occasioning actual bodily harm. He has pleaded not guilty.

Mr Naimey said he had been drinking at the Tank nightclub before going to the fast-food outlet and went outside when he heard Marshall was there.

Mr Naimey said he called out "Benji, Lockyer's better than you" and the footballer asked him what he had said.

Mr Naimey said he repeated his comment before Marshall "clenched his fist and took a jab, I felt it on my lower mouth".

He said he was shocked and stunned and felt blood on his face.

He said he took half a step back and received a blow from another man which landed on his cheek.

"People just jumped in to stop the fight," he said.

"I was in shock that he hit me over something like that."

He said he went back into McDonald's and called police, telling them he had been assaulted by two men, one of whom was a rugby league player.

Earlier, a police officer told the court he spoke to Mr Naimey at McDonald's and considered him to be moderately intoxicated.

He said Mr Naimey had told him that he had told Marshall the football player that "Lockyer sh**s on you" and that was when Marshall had come over and punched him.

Under cross-examination, Mr Naimey denied racially abusing the footballer.

Geoff Bellew SC, acting for Marshall, suggested Mr Naimey made the racist insult to the footballer, who replied: "What did you say? You can't say that.''

"No sir, that did not happen,'' Mr Naimey said.

He also denied repeating the insult.

"I take great offence to that,'' Mr Naimey said.

Mr Bellew asked him why he told Marshall that Lockyer was better than him.

"I just wanted to voice my opinion because I'm a big Broncos supporter and it was 3.30 in the morning,'' he replied.

"I had a couple of drinks.''

The hearing is continuing.