Assault charge against NRL player dropped

An assault charge against NRL player Kalifa Faifai Loa has been dismissed in a Queensland court.

Faifai Loa, who plays with the Gold Coast Titans, had been accused of punching a man during St Patrick's Day celebrations in Townsville in 2013.

The 24-year-old was playing with the North Queensland Cowboys at the time.

Faifai Loa was in Townsville Magistrates Court on Friday for the start of a trial into the case but the charges were dropped after the prosecution accepted his self-defence claim.

North Queensland teammates James Tamou and Jason Taumalolo were also in court to give evidence on Faifai Loa's behalf.