Papalii axed after drink driving charge

Josh Papalii has been axed from the Kangaroos after pleading to a guilty to a drink driving charge - in which he twice called the police to report his own dangerous actions and will miss next Friday’s Anzac test.

The Canberra Raiders back rower was on Wednesday recalled to Mal Meninga’s side for their first international in the World Cup year, just 24 hours before he fronted the ACT Magistrates Court.

And his joy was short-lived with the Australian Rugby League Commission standing down Papalii. He will be replaced by Canberra team-mate Shannon Boyd.

It follows the ARLC and Meninga both stressing Kangaroos players had to be just as exemplary off the field as on it under a culture shift introduced by Meninga.

A court heard on Thursday Papalii twice triple-zero to report his own drink driving to ‘prove a point’. It came after Papalii had attended an engagement party for Raiders team-mate Jarrod Croker.

Papalii pleaded guilty to a levelthree drink-driving charge after recording a blood-alcohol reading of 0.123 on January 15.

Meninga was asked not to consider Andrew Fifita and Semi Radradra for selection on last year’s successful Four Nations tour because of off-field issues. And the hardline stance will not change.

Papalii was due to make his first test appearance since the midseason international last year having missed the Four Nations tour through injury.

NRL chief executive Todd Greenberg said the Kangaroos selectors hadn’t had a chance to examine the details of Papalii’s case when they announced the test team on Wednesday.

‘‘This issue wasn’t in front of us at the time the team was selected,’’ Greenberg said. ’’This is an issue that goes back to the beginning of the year.

‘‘I think [the culture] resonates with Mal and it resonates with the senior players. I think it speaks volumes to the teams they select.

‘‘I was there on the Four Nations tour last year for a couple of weeks with the players. The culture of the group is as important as the skill and talent of the group. They don’t need direction from me.

In an interview with Media last week, Meninga said he would not back down on the standards he expects of players who pull on the green and gold.

‘‘If you want to put your hand up for a green and gold jersey it doesn’t just matter what you do on the field, but also off the field,’’ Meninga said. ‘‘That’s a really important value we hold dear to us.’’