Canberra back-rower Josh Papalii has been named as the Kangaroos player robbed on the Australian’s first night out in Manchester ahead of the start of the Rugby League World Cup.
Kangaroos management say they are looking into the incident which occurred after a number of members of the 24-man squad visited a nightclub on Tuesday night after their arrival from Australia.
The Kangaroos camp confirmed a player had lost money but that the incident was unlikely to become a police matter due to “the practicalities of it all”.
Australia enjoyed their first training session on Thursday but coach Tim Sheens has opted against playing a warm-up match ahead of their tournament opener against England in Cardiff Saturday week.
The Kangaroos will travel to Cardiff on Tuesday as they seek to wrest back the World Cup from New Zealand.
Ra
Guest
How many representative tours have u been on as a player and as management James? When you answer that we'll get back to your questions.
Damien
Roar Guru
Please it was a week and a half before their first game..
Damien
Roar Guru
The players are not minors and this was 10 nights before their first game, not a few days as your comment above alluded too. (I know you didn't specifically say that but you used that term when comparing Papalii to Rudisha. Yes they are there for a sports comp, but seriously, they just arrived and have plenty of time before the first game. I didn't misunderstand your statement. I just thought suggesting Papalii was some sort of showoff that has too much money was ordinary..
jameswm
Roar Guru
As part por marketing and spending time socially with the people they are there to meet you mean? That's a poor comparison. Also, business people are not there for physical endeavour. Do you think David Rudisha was out at bars a few days before his Olympic 800 final? If not, why not? What's the difference?
jameswm
Roar Guru
Yep some are, though you misunderstood what I said. Note the plural word syndromes. Why are they out when there for a sporting tournament?
Debauchery Coach
Guest
Josh must have been wearing a maroon shirt.
Bluebag
Guest
Rumour has it Scotland Yard is looking for anyone wearing a pink shirt and carrying a whistle or a small flag. Apparently they have form in robbing teams
Debauchery Coach
Guest
Those Canberra old boys would be proud of him...Carney, Ferguson, and Dugan. Papalli was taught by the best.
Wolly
Guest
Sure he could have handled himself well? Where do some league fans get the idea that rugby league players would be good at fighting? Have you seen the fights in games? They are hopeless (not that it's what they're there for obviously) but I have seen better fights in the city. Look at Willie Tonga, everyone was going on about how tough he was playing Origin with a dislocated shoulder and he got dropped by one punch by some random bloke in Townsville.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
The guy is a dead set idiot.Night clubbing before a major event.Thick as two planks.He should be fined ,even Cameron Smith was embarrassed. Discipline must be instilled from the very start,else the lunatics will end up running the asylum.
peeeko
Roar Guru
And you don't think business an go to bars and clubs when away on business?
Cleveland Steamer
Guest
Hahah. What hope do the rest of us have if he's getting mugged I'm never leaving the house now!
Cleveland Steamer
Guest
Apparently was a stick up. With a gun it's rumoured
nzmate
Guest
haha excellent.
Damien
Roar Guru
"This is all part of the “I have too much money” and “look at me” syndromes" Yeah coz people that go to nightclubs are really just trying to show off their cash, and draw attention to themselves. You must hang out in some strange circles..
Debauchery Coach
Guest
Are there any Australian politicians over there at the moment? More likely them than Villasanti.
oikee
Guest
Thoughts, well i am glad he only got robbed. ? I mean come-on, out at ungodly hours in greater Manchester at 1 in the morning, ? this is not Canberra. It also tells me that the Roos are in all sorts of mess, with Queensland players out on their own, and tensions must be high,. Anyone who thinks Myles and Gallen are mates have rocks in their heads. No, this will all end in tears. Maybe the sooner we have Queensland and NSW as separate teams the better. You can almost cut the atmosphere with a knife. Cant wait for the blame game to start after we get a belting by the Poms.
Debauchery Coach
Guest
Odd use of phrase. Reminds me of Malcolm Fraser losing his duds in Texas.
Chris Chard
Expert
Now I don't want to jump to any rash conclusions.... but the culprit is clearly Richard Villasanti Also does anyone know if it was a one on one steal?
jameswm
Roar Guru
So it's a holiday then?