Inglis banned for two Tests, loses Kangaroos captaincy
Author:Brad Walter Senior Reporter
Timestamp: Tue 2 Oct 2018, 03:19 PM
Newly appointed Australian captain Greg Inglis pleaded to retain the job and apologised for letting down those who view him as a role model after being charged with drink driving on Monday but the NRL has banned him for two Tests, stripping him of the captaincy.
Inglis was pulled over for speeding at 2.15pm on Monday and returned a blood alcohol reading of 0.085 after drinking the night before while attending the Koori Knockout in Dubbo.
The South Sydney superstar had hours earlier been named Kangaroos captain for the October 13 Test against New Zealand at Mt Smart Stadium and insisted he had the support of the playing group to continue in the role for that match plus the following weekend's clash with Tonga at the same venue.
The NRL integrity unit completed its investigation after Inglis had discussions with Australian coach Mal Meninga and his Queensland counterpart Kevin Walters about his representative standing.
"With the Australian captaincy, it is out of my hands now but it is something I would really love to still be the Australian captain," Inglis told a media conference at Redfern Oval on Tuesday.
"That is entirely up to Mal and the selectors, and obviously Todd [Greenberg] and the NRL. I spoke to Mal this morning, I have continued talks with Mal and I have continued talks with Kevvie, as well, and the QRL. In the background, I have been speaking to a lot of people.
"I have been playing for 13 years and I have never had a criminal charge laid against me or anything like that. I just hope the NRL can work through this and I will obviously work with Souths as well, and we will go from there.
"We just have to go through the process and I am here today to say that I am very sorry and very sincere about what happened."
In the statement released later on Tuesday, Inglis was quoted as saying: "I know I did the wrong thing and, while I am disappointed at missing the tour, I accept the penalty."
NRL CEO Todd Greenberg said it was a difficult decision to suspend Inglis who had such an exemplary record over a long period of time.
"Greg is not just a great player, he is one of our best role models, but he made a poor decision on this occasion," he 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."
Roosters skipper Boyd Cordner, who led NSW to a State of Origin series win this year, is all but certain to become Australia's next captain with Inglis unavailable.
Inglis's Rabbitohs teammate Dane Gagai and Melbourne veteran Will Chambers are the likely candidates to replace Inglis in the Kangaroos' back line.
Meninga said it was important to maintain the Kangaroos' RISE values (Respect, Inspire, Selfless, Excellence) and to ensure players did the right thing on and off the field.
