Former NRL player Trent Merrin charged with manufacturing illegal peptides
Former NRL player Trent Merrin has been charged over his alleged involvement in a peptide operation.
Merrin, who played more than 200 NRL games and represented New South Wales and Australia, was arrested on Tuesday after a months-long investigation and was charged with five offences.
The 37-year-old has been granted conditional police bail and is due to appear in the Wollongong Local Court on November 24.
His solicitor, Paul McGirr, told the ABC that Merrin would plead not guilty to all charges.
“We will request a brief of evidence and take it from there,” McGirr said.
The charges follow a police raid on a property in Shell Cove, in the Illawarra region south of Sydney, on July 24.
New South Wales Police said detectives from the Organised Crime Squad, working alongside Australia’s Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), had established Strike Force Antree in July to investigate the alleged illegal manufacture, supply and distribution of peptides.
During the search, police said they uncovered an alleged clandestine peptide manufacturing facility and large quantities of restricted substances.
A 39-year-old man was arrested in August in connection with the investigation and charged with four counts of manufacturing goods for use in humans resulting in harm or injury. His matter has since been finalised in court.
Merrin is the second man to be charged in connection with the investigation, with police confirming inquiries remain ongoing.
New South Wales Police said in a statement that on Friday, July 24, “strike force detectives executed a crime scene warrant in Shell Cove, where police uncovered an alleged clandestine peptide manufacturing facility and large quantities of restricted substances”.
Following inquiries, a 39-year-old man was arrested that day at the Day Street Police Station. “He was charged with four counts of manufacture goods for use in humans resulting in harm/injury”, granted conditional bail and appeared at the Downing Centre Local Court on Wednesday, September 30.
As further inquiries continued, police said that detectives arrested a 37-year-old man at Surry Hills Police Station about 8am (local time) on Tuesday November 3.
“He was charged with participate criminal group contribute criminal activity and five counts of manufacture goods for use in humans resulting in harm/injury.”
The 37-year-old was granted conditional bail to appear at the Wollongong Local Court on Tuesday, November 24 and “inquiries under Strike Force Antree remain ongoing”.
Peptides are short chains of amino acids linked together by chemical bonds called peptide bonds.
Last year, Merrin avoided conviction after pleading guilty to charges relating to a $140,000 cryptocurrency theft from a former teammate.
The former prop was sentenced to an 18-month community release order without conviction in December 2025.
Merrin played 235 NRL games during his NRL career with the St George Illawarra Dragons and the Penrith Panthers, with a brief stint in the English Super League with the Leeds Rhinos.
He also played 13 State of Origin games for New South Wales and seven tests for Australia.