<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Former NRL star Trent Merrin has faced court over allegations he stole $140,000 worth of cryptocurrency.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The 36-year-old former State of Origin and Australian Test lock appeared in Port Kembla Local Court on the NSW South Coast, but did not enter a plea.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Defence lawyer Harry Lollback asked the court for a one-week adjournment as some of the facts of the case were still to be determined.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE: </span></strong><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/finance/donald-trump-praises-australian-superannuation-system-and-considers-us-adopting-a-version-of-it/b52d85cc-1c42-416d-a7f1-925611ba5e7b" rel="" target="_blank" title=""><strong><span>Trump has eyed Australia's $4.1 trillion war chest. He wants a piece of the action</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Lollback is expected to enter a plea on behalf of Merrin at the next court date on December 10.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Merrin was arrested in November 2025 following a year-long investigation by police.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>He was charged with dishonestly obtaining financial advantage by deception and was granted bail.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/nsw-trent-merrin-former-nrl-star-faces-court-for-allegedly-stealing-crypto/60a50aa7-7ced-4b54-b60a-8b64645f032a" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Police allege Merrin accessed a 29-year-old man's account, believed to be a friend, and transferred $140,000 worth of Bitcoin.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>During his rugby league career, Merrin played 13 games for NSW and was part of the state's drought-breaking success in 2014.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>He also played seven Tests for Australia and more than 150 games for the St George Illawarra Dragons, winning the 2010 NRL Grand Final with the club.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>In 2015, he signed a five-year contract with the Penrith Panthers and then played one season in the English Super League team Leeds.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Merrin retired from the sport in April 2021, aged 32.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/how-to-follow-9news-digital/29855bb1-ad3d-4c38-bc25-3cb52af1216f"><em><strong><span>DOWNLOAD THE 9NEWS APP</span></strong></em></a><em><strong><span>: Stay across all the latest in breaking news, sport, politics and the weather via our news app and get notifications sent straight to your smartphone. Available on the</span></strong></em><span> </span><a href="https://apps.apple.com/au/app/9news/id1010533727"><em><strong><span>Apple App Store</span></strong></em></a><span> </span><em><strong><span>and</span></strong></em><span> </span><a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nineNewsAlerts.nine.com&amp;hl=en_AU&amp;pli=1"><em><strong><span>Google Play</span></strong></em></a><em><strong><span>.</span></strong></em></div></div>