THREE doormen have denied attacking Saints star Sia Soliola outside a nightclub entrance.

Christopher Rose, Lee Simpson, and Keiran Waters will stand trial next year after pleading not guilty to inflicting grievous bodily harm on the Kiwi international forward.

Soliola, 26, suffered facial injuries when he was allegedly beaten near to the entrance of the Imperial Bar on Ormskirk Street, St Helens in the early hours of Monday, March 12.

The defendants also denied assaulting Soliola’s teammate Carl Forster, who was also at the nightclub.

Defence statements were submitted to the court on behalf of the three men.

The trial, which could last between four and five days, has been set for the week beginning, March 18.

It raises the possibility that Soliola and Forster will be called to give testimony before the court while the Super League season is ongoing.

The defendants, Rose, 33, of Hansby Drive, Speke, Simpson, 24, of Newarth Drive, Lymm and Waters, 25, of St Chads Road, Chester, stood side by side in the dock and one by one entered not guilty pleas to both charges.

They will each be represented by separate counsel at the trial.

They remain on conditional bail.