A former NRL player has been fined and ordered to pay compensation after he headbutted and punched a man in a Brisbane nightclub.

Nathan Stapleton was out with his family on August 5 celebrating the life of his late brother-in-law when the incident occurred.

After pleading guilty to assault occasioning bodily harm in Brisbane Magistrates Court on Friday, the former Cronulla Sharks player was ordered to pay $2000 to the victim and an $800 fine.

He had no conviction recorded.

Stapleton played 61 NRL games for the Sharks between 2009 and 2014, switching from fullback to the wing.

In 2012 he played one game for the Prime Minister’s XIII.

Every Test, ODI & T20I live, ad-break free during play and in 4K. Only on Foxtel. SIGN UP NOW!