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Josh Addo-Carr has been punted from the Kangaroos squad and is set to receive a two-game ban following his involvement in a brawl at the Koori Knockout, ruling him out of the upcoming Pacific Championships.
The NRL Integrity Unit investigage the fight at the Indigenous carnival on the Central Coast and on Friday officially sanctioned him without stating a specific ban.
Coach Mal Meninga had initially included Addo-Carr in his Kangaroos squad, named on Tuesday, but knew that this might occur given the ongoing investigation.
The length of Addo-Carr’s suspension will not be finalised until he responds to the breach notice issued to him by the NRL.
However, the silver lining is that Dylan Edwards, long touted for rep honours, will get his first crack at a Kangaroos jersey after he was called into the squad as a replacement.
(Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)
Addo-Carr’s omission is another blow to a Meninga, who is already missing the likes of Nathan Cleary and Latrell Mitchell due to injury.
Cleary is out after suffering a knee injury in the Panthers’ heroic Grand Final comeback on Sunday night.
He has an MCL problem, sustained in the Grand Final in a suspected hip-drop tackle from fellow Kangaroo Payne Haas – meaning the halfback, who was named Clive Churchill Medallist, played for 70 minutes on his injured knee, adding an extra layer of heroism to what was already one of the all-time great performances.
Nicho Hynes has been called into the squad as a replacement, though Daly Cherry-Evans will almost certainly take over in the 7 jumper. Ben Hunt is also in the squad, though he has predominantly played as a 14, sharing time at dummy half with Harry Grant.
He and Cleary shared time at halfback in last year’s World Cup, with the eventual decision to start Cleary for the semi-final against New Zealand the longest-running saga of the tournament.
Cleary will undergo further scans on his knee on Thursday, but has already withdrawn from the squad.
Hynes told the Daily Telegraph that he had not expected the call from coach Mal Meninga, having already gone on holiday following the PM XIII’s game in Papua New Guinea.
“I’m grateful to have this opportunity to be around the best of the best,” said the Sharks star.
“It’s an experience I’ve dreamt of and there is no better way to close out the year. Considering I wrote on Instagram yesterday that my season is done, to be here now, there’s no better way to finish the year.
“This is a dream come true. I obviously want to play a game, but the experience alone will be outstanding.
“I had the best experience with Chez in the Prime Minister’s game so now to be back around him and Cam (Munster) and Harry, it will only make me a better player.