A NORTHERN Pride rugby league footballer has been fined and faces club sanctions after a drunken fight in which he kicked a man unconscious then switched clothes with a mate to elude police.

Quincy To’oto’o-ulugia, 21, who pleaded guilty to public nuisance and was fined $350 in Cairns Magistrates’ Court yesterday, has been asked to explain himself at a meeting with rugby league club officials today at 11am.

"This is completely against the ethos of the club," Pride chief executive John Moore said.

"We’ve got to have a serious talk to him."

The court heard To’oto’o-ulugia was captured on security footage punching, shoving and kneeing another man in the head in City Place on October 25 about 1.15am.

The other man kicked out and missed, causing him to fall over, with To’oto’o-ulugia then kicking him in the head as he lay on the ground causing him to lose consciousness, police prosecutor Michelle Long said.

To’oto’o-ulugia was then seen on the CCTV footage going into a Lake St nightclub and coming out with another man, walking up a laneway and switching clothes, a tactic that foiled police from finding him that night, Sen-Constable Long said.

When they did track him down three days later, To’oto’o-ulugia admitted to fighting and said he had already apologised even though the other man threw the first punch.

Mr Moore yesterday said To’oto’o-ulugia had explained the fight began when a man groped his girlfriend and then punched him when he confronted him about it.

"We accept it was in self-defence," he said.

But Mr Moore said a decision would need to be made on whether to give him another chance.

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