Josh Addo-Carr sent off for being too loud supporting the Storm

Melbourne Storm superstar Josh Addo-Carr’s days as an NRL ball boy are over after being sent packing at halftime against the Manly Sea Eagles.

The NRL has banned Melbourne Storm superstar Josh Addo-Carr from ball boy ­duties during the finals after a blow-up on Friday night over his sideline exuberance.

The Sunday Telegraph can reveal the NSW winger was ­ordered from the field during the semi-final against Manly because of his high-energy ­antics and for being “too loud”.

Addo-Carr had been patrolling the sideline and lending his vocal support as the Storm opened up a 24-6 lead in the first half.

“Josh has a very exuberant personality, which is one of his great assets as a person and a player,” NRL head of football Graham Annesley said.

Josh Addo-Carr shares a moment with the team after the Storm scores against Manly. Picture: Fox Sports

“Unfortunately, it’s not necessarily one of the traits we look for in ballboys!

“After getting a little too ­excited in the first half, the ground manager felt it was probably better if Josh relinquished the role for the second half so he could continue supporting his teammates without interfering with his ball boy duties.”

Addo-Carr is regarded as one of the game’s most flamboyant characters but missed the game because he is recovering from a hamstring injury.

The sport’s strict Covid biosecurity protocols has meant players have taken over the role of ball boys since the competition moved to southeast Queensland eight weeks ago.

Josh Addo-Carr was relieved of his duties for being ‘too loud’.

Addo-Carr laughed off the drama when contacted by The Sunday Telegraph.

“Everyone was complaining bra that I got too loud so they pulled the pin on me,” he said.

“I watched the rest of the game from the bench with the rest of the team.

“I was just trying to gee the boys up and it got pretty ­exciting whenever we scored.

“I couldn’t contain myself. I just couldn’t.

“I actually had the biggest headache at halftime from all the yelling, although I was pretty upset to get punted.”

The NRL had to deal with a similar incident during the State of Origin game on the Gold Coast earlier in the season when Blues ball boy, Parramatta Eels skipper Clint Gutherson, was accused of coaching and organising the team’s defence from behind the line.

He was moved to the players’ bench for the remainder of the game.

Addo-Carr is going to be fit to return for the Preliminary Final. Picture: Fox Sports

Even without Addo-Carr’s support Craig Bellamy’s Storm secured a 40-12 victory over the Sea Eagles to earn themselves the weekend off for the second week of the ­finals.

Addo-Carr will return from injury for the preliminary final as Storm look to ­secure a grand final berth for the fifth time in six years and their first back-to-back premiership titles.

The Storm remain the ­favourites to win the premiership ahead of the Penrith Panthers.

The first weekend of the ­finals concludes this afternoon when the Eels and Knights clash in the second Elimination Final.

Originally published as Josh Addo-Carr sent off for being too loud supporting the Storm