Raiders veteran allegedly threw glasses and threatened staff and police inside a Canberra bar

Canberra Raiders veteran player Josh Papalii has been charged over an ugly confrontation with police inside a licensed venue, just weeks before he won a prestigious award.

A Raiders player has been charged with throwing glasses and threatening staff during an ugly confrontation inside a licensed venue in Canberra last month.

Police allege veteran player Josh Papalii, 32, was one of three men who was behaving aggressively towards each other and staff inside a Gungahlin venue on September 16.

Police were called to the premises about 3.10am on a Monday after the Raiders player allegedly verbally abused a staff member when the trio were asked to leave.

Josh Papalii has been charged with intimidating police and failing to leave the venue. Picture: Matt King/Getty Images.

Police claimed that they spoke to the three men and asked them to leave but Mr Papalii became verbally abusive and threatened officers.

Officers negotiated with the group and the three men left, but returned a short time later.

When the men were asked to leave again, police allege Mr Papalii tried to intimidate the officers before the group finally departed the area.

Papalii has played with the Raiders for 13 years and was named the Fred Daly Club Person of the Year at an award’s ceremony on Monday.

Canberra Raiders player Josh Papalii was named the Fred Daly Player of the Year at an awards ceremony this week. Photo by Mark Nolan/Getty Images.

He was issued with two court attendance notices for intimidating police and failing to leave a licensed premises and is due to face court on October 31.

A police spokesperson said another 30-year old man would be served with a criminal infringement notice for failing to quit a premises.

The spokesperson said the third man’s involvement was not under investigation.

Originally published as Raiders veteran allegedly threw glasses and threatened staff and police inside a Canberra bar