Greg Inglis fronts media following charges for drink driving and speeding
GREG Inglis has been ruled out of the Australian team over disciplinary reasons, the day after being named captain of the Kangaroos.
Greg Inglis’ Kangaroos captaincy lasted just 28 hours before he was suspended for Australia’s two-Test rugby league tour of New Zealand.
Dane Gagai comes into the team to partner Latrell Mitchell in the centres while Boyd Cordner will take over as captain.
A statement has been released from the NRL. It reads as follows:
"Greg Inglis will miss the Kangaroos' matches against New Zealand and Tonga after being suspended for two games today. Australian Coach Mal Meninga and NRL CEO Todd Greenberg agreed on the sanction after the Australian captain was charged with drink driving and speeding yesterday.
They said it was important to uphold the principles of the RISE values (Respect, Inspire, Selfless, Excellence), adopted by the Kangaroos. Inglis, who today apologised for the breach, said he accepted the decision.
“I know I did the wrong thing and, while I am disappointed at missing the tour, I accept the penalty,” he said.
Mr 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.”
Meninga said Inglis would be welcomed back into the Kangaroos by his team mates and management.“I hope to see him back in a Kangaroos jersey next year,” he said.
“Greg has been an integral part of the team for many years and I expect him to be back.”Mal said the RISE values were important in ensuring players recognised the need to do the right thing on and off the field.
“No one respects those values more than Greg and we look forward to him returning to the team next year.“Greg was in fact an integral part of the creation of the RISE values.“As a result he’s accepted the penalty and I think he has shown real leadership by the way he has been accountable for his actions.”
Appointed to the role of national captain on Monday, Inglis paid the price for allegedly being caught speeding and drink driving just hours later in Lithgow. The South Sydney star fronted the media on Tuesday to apologise but said he felt he deserved to stay on as Kangaroos captain.
Those hopes were quickly quashed by NRL CEO Todd Greenberg and Kangaroos coach Mal Meninga two hours later.
“Greg is not just a great player, he is one of our best role models, but he made a poor decision on this occasion,” said Greenberg, announcing the suspension. “He deserves full credit for being up front 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.”
Inglis said he regretted the decision to get behind the wheel.
"I don't think I let my country down but I think I let a lot of people down. From where I stand in the game as a proud indigenous role model, I think I've let a lot of kids down and a lot of people down in that community."
"This has got nothing to do with my mental health, this is to do with me making silly mistakes."
Inglis will not challenge the ban, and it remains possible he could return as the Kangaroos captain next year when Meninga names his next squad.
The ban came after Inglis stated his case to stay on as Kangaroos leader. “Me personally, I feel like do (deserve to),” he said.
“It’s entirely up to them. It’s out of my control now. I know I still have the full support of the playing group and everyone else.
“Through my playing career I’ve been playing for 13 years and I’ve never had a criminal charge laid against me.”
Inglis had also spoken with Queensland Origin coach Kevin Walters on Tuesday, but was at least told by the Rabbitohs his job as South Sydney skipper was safe. The 31-year-old was driving home from the Koori Knockout tournament in Dubbo when he was stopped around 2pm after, he said, he’d returned to his hotel room at about 1am that morning.
“I thought I would be right to drive and I didn’t leave Gulgong until about 12 the next day. Got pulled over and that was it from there,” he said. “I’m sincerely apologetic.
“I know where I stand in the game as a role model to the community and what I have been charged with is unacceptable on my behalf.” Inglis is due to face court next month.
Meninga said he would have no issue recalling Inglis next year. “I hope to see him back in a Kangaroos jersey next year,” he said. “Greg has been an integral part of the team for many years and I expect him to be back.”
Originally published as Greg Inglis fronts media following charges for drink driving and speeding
$800k reserve grader: Inside Newcastle’s roster Knightmare
Adam O’Brien has led Newcastle to consecutive finals appearances but the Knights know they must reshape their roster to take the next step. But can he do it without losing control of the season before it begins?
Inside Gould’s rousing six-minute speech that will terrify NRL rivals
On Tuesday night, Phil Gould held an extraordinary gathering of 850 guests and Bulldogs luminaries in the palm of his hand for six minutes, revealing a mission statement that should frighten the rest of the NRL, writes DAVID RICCIO.