Inglis suspended over drink-driving charge
Greg Inglis will miss tests against New Zealand and Tonga after being handed down a two-match suspension following his drink driving charge.
The NRL released a statement yesterday to confirm he would miss the two tests.
Inglis, who apologised for the breach earlier yesterday when he fronted media, confirmed he accepted the decision to suspend him for two matches.
‘‘I know I did the wrong thing and, while I am disappointed at missing the tour, I accept the penalty,’’ Inglis said.
NRL CEO Todd Greenberg said the decision to suspend Inglis, who had such an exemplary record over a long period of time, was difficult.
‘‘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. ‘‘He deserves full credit for being upfront today by apologising and taking full ownership of his mistake.
‘‘It is a mark of the man that he has accepted responsibility for his actions and I have no doubt he will overcome this setback and retain his status as a true leader in our game.’’
Earlier yesterday, a contrite Inglis faced the media to admit he has let people down after he was allegedly caught drink-driving and speeding on Monday, the day he had been announced as the new captain of the Australian rugby league team.
‘‘I’m sincerely apologetic and hopefully this can get sorted and we can move on from this,’’ Inglis said before the suspension was announced.
‘‘As a player, as a person in this community, it’s not good enough.
‘‘I’ve let a lot of people down as a proud Indigenous role model.’’
On Monday, NSW police said Inglis was stopped at about 2.15pm when detected travelling above the speed limit along the Great Western Highway in Lithgow.
A roadside breath test allegedly returned a positive reading and Inglis was taken to Lithgow Police Station, where it is alleged he returned a reading of 0.085.