NRL star Josiah Karapani says he is “very sorry” after he was busted drink-driving on a major Queensland motorway.
The 24-year-old Brisbane Broncos winger was caught behind the wheel with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.037 on the Pacific Motorway at Macgregor, in Brisbane’s south, about 7am on June 28.
Karapani was on a provisional licence at the time and required to submit to a zero-level alcohol condition.
The young father was also clocked driving at 119km/h in a 100km/h zone, driving unregistered and unlicensed and found to be driving without his P1 plates displayed.
Karapani fronted Holland Park Magistrates Court on Tuesday, pleading guilty to drink driving while on a provisional licence.
A Brisbane Broncos representative was also in court in support of the young player.
Karapani’s solicitor Abby Hawkins said the Broncos player was drinking at a friend’s house the night prior and “miscalculated the limit” in his decision to drive the following morning.
“He’s fallen asleep, he’s woken up and driven,” she said.
“With the benefit of hindsight he certainly wouldn’t have driven.”
She added Karapani was “extremely remorseful” and would likely receive extracurial punishment for his conduct.
“The punishment will extend beyond the courtroom today,” she said.
“There’s reputational damage that could attach.
“There will also be a punishment handed down by the NRL Integrity Unit as well as through the club.”
The court was told Karapani had no criminal or traffic history.
However, the young winger’s court appearance was only months after he was fined and handed a one-month ban from the Fortitude Valley safe night precinct following an altercation outside a venue in March.
He was not officially charged for the matter and was not required to attend court.
For his drink-driving, Karapani was fined $350 and disqualified from driving or holding a licence for three months.
He returned to play with the Broncos in the NRL last Thursday after he was dropped by the team at the request of senior players.
The New-Zealand-born star announced his intentions to play for his home country at the Rugby League World Cup later this year.
On Tuesday, the court was told Karapani moved to Australia as a 19-year-old, debuting his rugby league career with the Brisbane Broncos.
He is contracted with the club until 2027.
Originally published as Brisbane Broncos star Josiah Karapani pleads guilty to drink-driving charge