Canberra forward Junior Paulo will miss the club’s opening-round fixture with North Queensland after he was convicted of common assault and reckless driving last year.
Paulo pleaded guilty to the charges in a Sydney court in October, relating to a 2015 incident where he tailgated a man before attacking him.
Canberra, in consultation with the NRL, confirmed they had suspended Paulo from the weekend’s Auckland Nines and that he was not made available for All-Stars selection, along with missing the one NRL match.
“The Raiders believe in upholding the integrity of the game and we’ve worked closely with the NRL to determine this outcome for Junior,” Raiders’ chief executive Don Furtner said.
Canberra were aware of the incident when they signed the 23-year-old from Parramatta midway through last season, with his exit from Sydney considered a key part of helping turn his life around.
He was also figured alongside fellow NRL players Corey Norman and James Segeyaro in a photograph with accused criminals and bikies.
His suspension will come as a massive blow to Canberra because North Queensland boast one of the biggest forward packs in the league.
Paulo averaged more than 110m per game after moving to the club last year as the Raiders surged into the preliminary finals.
He will still be able to play in the club’s trial against Newcastle on February 18 as part of his pre-season preparations.
Paulo was also fined $300 and disqualified from driving for a year over the incident and will have to complete club-sanctioned community service.
The Barry
Roar Guru
On another note can you imagine being in a bingle, getting out to exchange licence details and a sauced up Paulo jumps out of the other car to give you a flogging. I'd be tearing up the footpath like Wile E Coyote...
Albo
Guest
Spot on Baz ! Keep away from IPhones & all will be sweet ! The Court of social media determines the penalties here.
Magnus M. Østergaard
Roar Guru
Depends on whose social media account the incident is posted on, and which channel picks it up first.
HarryT
Guest
Are the NRL saying it is 8 times less serious to beat another person than it is to simulate a lewd act with a dog? And 400 times cheaper in terms of fines?
The Barry
Roar Guru
What about throwing donuts at cars?
Jacko
Guest
Is this a joke? Surely thats a sackable offence? Yet again the NRL lets itself down badly with its inconsistances. Where is the integrity unit now?
Joe
Roar Rookie
Pretty weak from Canberra. I don't think clubs should be using the Nines as part of the suspension although All Stars match is fine if they've already been picked which I'm not sure was the case here. Its not hard so see why Roosters fans would be upset considering what got handed out to Pearce. Lastly I don't think the Cowboys boast one of the biggest packs anymore...if fact that's where I think they were found wanting last year and will be worse this year.
Hard Yards
Roar Rookie
This sort of business raises a few questions. Firstly, should activity (whether criminal or not) pursued outside of the workplace be relevant to whether a player can still turn up for work on Monday morning - assuming they haven't been incarcerated by the proper authorities. If the guy worked at Centrelink or at Hungry Jacks, I assume he'd be able to work. And by work I mean carry out duties, not sit at home on garden leave while getting paid. Secondly, if activities pursued outside of the workplace are relevant, then the nature of the activity and the NRL sanction for each activity should be codified - it should be spelled out in black and white so it's a no-brainer as to what follows. Then its not opaque and we should achieve a degree of consistency. I don't know that its really enough to say ' I can't say specifically what the problem activity is, but I know it when I see it', because people all have different takes on specifics of the matter even though there may be a consensus at a general level. It shouldn't be too hard: players generally have problems with being drunk in public; indecency; possession or trafficking of illegal or prescription drugs; assault (whether in the privacy of the home or outside of it, and whether of a sexual nature or not)-and whether or not leading to conviction, and traffic offences. Those cover most incidents I would have thought. It would be rare to find property offences and unlawful killing. And probably a third question, what happens if there is a plea of guilty before the court by the player so he admits it, but the Court exercises its discretion not to record a conviction based on the player's personal circumstances? At the base of this is the NRLs desire to position and protect the goodwill of its brand. It probably wishes it didn't have to lean on clubs to take any action for stuff that happens away from the publicly performed games, but it's in a bind because the players are all, for better or for worse, brand ambassadors
david
Guest
Nice job raiders. We are serious club and it shows if you are out of line we are going to suspend you.
Magnus M. Østergaard
Roar Guru
I know this happened when he was contracted to Parramatta, but Canberra should have known about it when they signed him and prepared to suspend him should he have been found guilty. 3-5 weeks would have been a better punishment.
The Barry
Roar Guru
Actually I do get it...no footage, no problem.
The Barry
Roar Guru
Agree with all of the comments above. NRL throws the book at players who are 'naughty' but slaps the wrists of players who break the law. I really don't get it...
Johnno
Guest
It's a joke how Michell pearce got a tough fine and suspension but not junior paulo. Imagine if this was Fifita or Mason or Hoppa.
db
Guest
Mitchell Pearce should have been playing at Canberra last year. The punishment for his Australia day shenanigans may have only been a 1 week suspension.
Mike from tari
Guest
Misses 1 NRL game for Common Assault, Canberra are putting a great spin on this, doesn't look like much punishment to me.