The news goes from bad to worse for Josh Papalii, who has now been dropped for two weeks by the Raiders just days after being axed from the Kangaroos squad for a drink driving incident.
The Canberra Raiders board on Monday revealed their decision to support the Australian side’s sacking off the back of the incident and recent court proceedings.
“The Board has determined Papalii will be stood down for two weeks which includes the Raiders’ next premiership match,” read a statement from the Raiders.
“It was felt the further one-match suspension was significant enough following the Kangaroos decision to stand down Papalii from Friday night’s Test match.”
The big forward pleaded guilty last Thursday to a level three drink driving charge, copping an eight-month driving ban and a $1000 fine.
The ruling stemmed from a celebration of teammate Jarrod Croker’s engagement party in mid-January that saw the 24-year-old pull up a blood-alcohol reading of 0.123, more than double the legal limit.
Raiders CEO Don Furner weighed in on the issue, stating that while the punishment is fair, the club will be keeping their eyes on Papalii’s wellbeing.
“The Board believes Josh has endured a hefty punishment from both the Court process and by his omission from the Kangaroos team,” Furner said on Monday.
“A further one-match suspension was the correct punishment.
“The club will continue to work with Josh in ensuring his welfare remains paramount.
“The club has to ensure that Josh’s personal matters are handled in a sensitive and confidential matter.”
Papalii had been on the wrong end of Mal Meninga’s strict behavioural and disciplinary standards surrounding the Kangaroos camp last week, being pushed out of the squad for the Anzac Test against New Zealand.
Teammate Shannon Boyd was brought in as his replacement, but went down with an injury which has ruled him out of the Test. Andrew Fifita is now named to start in the front row alongside David Klemmer, while Jake Trbojevic has made his way onto the bench.
Despite being given a two-week suspension by the club, Papalii will miss just the one club game for the Raiders, against the Newcastle Knights in Round 10.
He is expected to come straight back into the side for their Round 11 clash with the Parramatta Eels.
The Barry
Roar Guru
He has. But Fifita's ban was five tests, so that's five jerseys and 200K plus a Churchill. Fifita's actions were silly, childish and extremely inconsiderate but they never put anyone's lives at risk. Papalii had a skinful and got behind the wheel of a car. The punishments are disproportionate to what they did. Does writing letters on your strapping bring the game into more disrepute than drink driving? It's a serious question.
The Barry
Roar Guru
Maybe. It's an interesting perspective. I don't mean to hang Papalii out to dry but I do think the NRL comes down like a ton of bricks on 'boys will be boys' incidents, while skirting away from incidents with criminal repercussions. The video seems to be the common link. I like Papalii and I hope he can avoid this sort of rubbish before he gets himself into real trouble.
Edward Kelly
Roar Guru
Perhaps the difference is that Pearce, Fifitta and Carney did not go to court, as far as I can remember (correct me if I'm wrong). That is a big difference, as anyone who have been to court will tell you. If he is super dumb again he could find himself in jail so perhaps that has been taken into consideration for Papalii.
eels47
Roar Rookie
Congratulations on the dumbest comment of the week award. If you are in any way condoning getting behind the wheel while intoxicated I really worry for you. What if he had hurt or killed someone. Seriously I cannot understand how anyone can honestly think that driving under the influence is OK.
Armchair expert
Guest
I won't condone dui at all, but he has lost $40k match payment and playing a home game for Australia. What would be fair? Not that I think what the players you mentioned got was fair.
Jimmmy
Guest
You have nailed it . A video of Papalli drunk behind the wheel or the cops pulling him over would mean 6 weeks at least. Mitchell Pearce' s ban was a disgrace . If it's not on video you have no worries.
The Barry
Roar Guru
This is his second DUI and he's been fined for a road rage incident (threw a bottle of moisturiser at another motorist, true story) and got pinged for driving while his licence was suspended. One game is a lettuce leaf punishment. Wording it as a "two week suspension" shows the Raiders know it too. What's the minimum punishment we can get away with? Writing initials on his strapping cost Fifita about five tests and a Clive Churchill. Pretending to dry hump a dog cost Pearce eight games. A bubbler cost Carney his NRL career. The difference? Photos and videos. You can break the law as long as no one catches it on film. Act like a prawn on tape and you're done for. Good to see the game has its priorities right way around.
Kobi
Guest
He drove his car to a venue that serves alcohol he deliberately chose to drive whilst intoxIcated. Clubs have an education programme in place regarding player behaviour. Alcohol & drugs would be a player education priority. The punishment for a priority breech. 2 club games and a test match suspension. Yeah clubs take it seriously don't they not.
Alex L
Roar Rookie
The crime wasn't "having a beer" it was "being behind the wheel of a car while intoxicated".
Sylvester
Guest
Court case was Thursday. Plenty of time to stand him down before the weekend if they were serious.
Jock Cornet
Guest
The crime of the century having a beer.
Alex L
Roar Rookie
Who said anything about a conspiracy. Clubs using court and integrity unit investigation times to their benefit like the Sharks with Fifita last year or Souths with Auva'a in 2014 is common knowledge.
Edward Kelly
Roar Guru
On your bike Alex L, at least the Raiders set some sort of standard for acceptable behaviour and suffer a price for that, unlike some clubs who actively hide player discretion's.
zim
Guest
Or you know, had to wait for the court case to finish. There is no conspiracy here. It has followed the exact same timeline as other issues like this.
Womblat
Guest
Ahhh, just connected the dots. Of course...
Alex L
Roar Rookie
Funny how it took them until after the Bulldogs game and directly before the Knights game to work out punishment for something they've known all about for months.