An L-plater player in a 200km/h cop chase

By the Editorial Team · Saturday, September 5, 2026

NRLW player Seriah Palepale was involved in a police chase in southwest Sydney, reaching speeds of up to 200 km/h, before crashing into a power pole and facing multiple charges including driving dangerously during a police pursuit. As a result, the St George Illawarra Dragons have stood her down from playing ahead of their next match, with the NRL Integrity Unit now overseeing the investigation.

Seriah Palepale, a 19-year-old prop for the St George Illawarra Dragons in the NRL Women’s Premiership (NRLW), was involved in a high-speed police pursuit in southwest Sydney on Thursday night that reached speeds of up to 200 km/h. The chase concluded after Palepale crashed her vehicle into a power pole near Kennedy Street while attempting to avoid roadworks.

According to court documents, police detected Palepale driving a Haval SUV at excessive speeds near Appin. When officers attempted to stop her, she failed to comply, prompting a pursuit along Appin Road. The vehicle reportedly exceeded the 90 km/h speed limit by more than double during the chase.

Palepale was uninjured in the crash and subsequently taken to Campbelltown Police Station, where she was charged with multiple offenses. On Friday at Campbelltown Local Court, she pleaded guilty to two charges: driving dangerously during a police pursuit and driving while holding a suspended license. Two other charges—failing to stop when directed by police and exceeding the speed limit by more than 45 km/h as an L-plater—have not been contested. Her lawyer indicated that representations would be made to have those remaining charges dropped at sentencing.

Following her court appearance, Palepale was granted bail by Judge Marguerite Vassall and is scheduled to return to court for sentencing on October 16.

The St George Illawarra Dragons confirmed the club was aware of the incident and had notified the NRL Integrity Unit. A club spokesman stated that Palepale had been stood down from playing duties ahead of the team’s upcoming match against the Brisbane Broncos. Further comment from the club was withheld pending the ongoing proceedings.

Palepale joined the Dragons’ top squad this year on a development contract and made her first NRLW appearance last weekend, playing 23 minutes off the bench in a 22-18 victory over the New Zealand Warriors. She had been named on the interchange bench for the upcoming game before being stood down.

The NRL confirmed its integrity unit is monitoring the situation as the matter progresses.

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