New Kangaroos skipper suspended after drink-driving charge
SYDNEY: New Kangaroos skipper Greg Inglis has been suspended for two games after being caught allegedly drink driving just hours after his appointment, the National Rugby League said Tuesday.
Inglis, 31, was charged with drink driving and speeding on Monday, shortly after he was handed the captaincy over main rival Boyd Cordner.
The suspension means he will miss the Kangaroos’ matches against New Zealand and Tonga later this month, with Cordner – the co- captain of the NRL premiership champions the Sydney Roosters – to take over as captain.
Inglis’ sanction was decided by Australian coach Mal Meninga and NRL ch ief exe cut ive Todd Greenberg, who want the Kangaroos to “uphold the principles of the RISE values ( respect , inspire, sel f less, excellence)”.
“Greg is not just a great player, he is one of our best role models, but he made a poor decision on this occasion,” Greenberg said.
The NRL said that the Queenslander had accepted their decision.
The longer-term future of Inglis as skipper remains uncertain, with NRL.com reporting that the NRL Integrity Unit will investigate before a decision is made.
South Sydney Rabbitohs’ Dane Gagai was added to the squad following Inglis’ withdrawal.
Inglis earlier Tuesday acknowledged he made “a stupid mistake” but refused to stand down from the captaincy, saying it was up to the NRL to decide if he can retain the armband.
“We’ll just wait and see what the NRL decide, it’s out of my hands now,” Inglis told reporters in Sydney.
“But it’ s still something that I’ d really love, to be Australian captain. Obviously we have standards there... so it’s disappointing from my end.”
Inglis was pulled over for speeding in a black Mercedes on Monday afternoon near Lithgow, west of Sydney, and failed a breath test.