Former NRL star Nathan Merritt has been charged with drug and firearm offences after police raided his home in Marrickville, Sydney, as part of an investigation into a ram raid at a luxury Fendi store.
Police allege officers found 12 grams of cocaine and a gel blaster firearm during the search. Merritt surrendered himself to police following the raid.
The investigation centres on a robbery at the high-end fashion store in Sydney’s CBD early yesterday morning. Merritt has not been charged in connection with the store robbery, with the charges against him relating only to the items allegedly found at his home.
The 42-year-old, a former South Sydney Rabbitohs player and father of five, has publicly said he has about 12 months to live while battling stage four oesophageal and liver cancer.
Merritt was first diagnosed with oesophageal cancer last November after experiencing stomach pain. He was diagnosed with liver cancer four months later, in February.
In March, he said he remained determined to fight the illness despite the prognosis.
“I’ve been diagnosed with stage four cancer — oesophagus and liver cancer,” Merritt said.
“It’s a tough pill to swallow for my kids and family. But it’s good — it’s going to be a tough one, but I’m going to fight through it.”
Merritt said he had only learned weeks earlier that both cancers were at stage four. He added that his treatment was focused on managing the disease with chemotherapy and staying alive for as long as possible.
