Papalii axed from Roos for drink-driving
CANBERRA Raiders forward Josh Papalii has been sacked from the Australian rugby league team under coach Mal Meninga’s strict new disciplinary rules.
The Maroons and Kangaroos forward was on Thursday fined $1000 and disqualified from driving for eight months after pleading guilty to a drink-driving charge in the ACT Magistrates Court.
Papalii, 24, pleaded guilty to level-three drink-driving after recording a blood-alcohol reading of 0.123 on January 15, hours after he left captain Jarrod Croker’s engagement party.
Papalii (pictured) will be replaced by Raiders teammate Shannon Boyd in the Kangaroos team to play the Kiwis in Canberra next Friday night.
Meninga’s “no-dickhead” policy cost Sharks forward Andrew Fifita and Parramatta Eels winger Semi Radradra starts on last year’s Four Nations tour of England.