Darrell Trindall did not use his greatest trick while playing NRL. The man called ‘Tricky’ has been nominated for The Frownlow Medal Hall of Fame for drug and alcohol addiction, traffic offences and alleged domestic violence, and for pulling off one great trick.
The Frownlow Medal is awarded to the player whose off-field demeanour epitomises the values of the modern-day footballer and draws attention to the status of footballers as role models to young Australians. It covers Australia’s four major football codes: the men’s and women’s National Rugby League (NRL), Australian Football League (AFL), the A-League (Football) and Rugby Union’s Super Rugby competition. NRL player Shaun Kenny-Dowall won the inaugural medal in 2015, while AFL player Noah Balta is the most recent recipient.
The Frownlow Medal Hall of Fame honours former players and players who received media attention in previous seasons, for similarly scandalous behaviour, and its inductees include Ben Cousins and Julian O’Neill.
Trindall dazzled crowds with his skill while playing for South Sydney and Canterbury, and has performed some crazy hijinks since retiring in 2003.
In 2025, the former halfback drove through the night from Sydney to Tamworth (330+kms) while smoking about $100 worth of ice. He pleaded guilty to driving a vehicle under the influence of drugs, and the court heard that he was driving erratically in an emergency stop lane 30km/h under the speed limit with his hazard lights on. His arm was also hanging out of the open window, waving at passing cars, and his car was accelerating and braking in an erratic manner.
When police pulled him over, they saw that he had pinpoint pupils and sweaty skin, and was highly erratic and easily distracted, making exaggerating gestures like sticking his tongue out and fidgeting. In addition, his speech was fast, jumbled, and difficult to understand. He was unable to maintain a train of thought or engage in conversation without becoming distracted or confused.
Sounds like he was trying to pass a HIA.
A drug test returned positive results for amphetamine and methylamphetamine, with a pharmacologist concluding he was under the influence of Ice such that his ability to drive would have been impaired. He was given a 12-month CCO as well as a $750 fine and his licence was suspended for 12 months.
Trindall has also been charged with multiple incidents of assault.
In 2002, he was charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm and high-range drink driving after an alleged assault in the Bulldogs club car park, which left a 36-year-old woman in hospital with head injuries.
In 2003, he pleaded guilty to indecently assaulting a long time friend at a pub in Sydney’s CBD. Trindall allegedly punched the woman in the face three times and held her in a headlock four times. He then said “I’m a first grade footballer. Who are they going to believe, you or me?”. He later received a 12-month suspended jail sentence for the attack.
He faced court for domestic violence related matters in 2009, where he was convicted of assault occasioning actual bodily harm and received a three year bond.
In 2012, he pleaded not guilty to assaulting a police officer in Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs and in 2013 and 2016, he was also convicted of domestic violence related assault matters.
In 2020, he was remanded on charges of common assault, stalking or intimidating in a domestic violence context, and two counts of assault occasioning bodily harm
Perhaps the biggest trick Trindall pulled off was avoiding prison.
Image: NuNa
