- Josh Addo-Carr received NRL violation notice
- Follows his involvement in a fight last weekend at Koori Knockout
- The 28-year-old man said on social media that he was the victim
Bulldogs pilot Josh Addo-Carr has been served with an NRL violation notice after his involvement in a brawl during the Koori Knockout last weekend.
In a statement, the NRL said Addo-Carr “engaged in conduct which brought the game into disrepute”.
Penrith’s Dylan Edwards was drafted into the Kangaroos squad on Thursday, replacing Addo-Carr on the wing ahead of Pacific Championships tests against Samoa and New Zealand.
It also comes after NRL officials spoke to Addo-Carr on Wednesday as part of an investigation into the brawl at the Aboriginal football carnival on the NSW central coast.
It is alleged Addo-Carr punched an opponent, sparking an all-out brawl during the clash with Walgett which spilled into the crowd.
Josh Addo-Carr has been stood down by the NRL for two test matches after his involvement in a brawl during the Koori Knockout last weekend on the NSW Central Coast.
Addo-Carr has five business days to respond to NRL violation notice
The 28-year-old insisted on social media that he was the victim rather than the aggressor while representing the Sydney All Blacks.
“Tell who really got knocked out in the fight, play dirty cop,” he wrote on Instagram.
Despite Addo-Carr’s claim, he will not play in the two Tests this month for Australia.
“The National Rugby League (NRL) today issued Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs player Josh Addo-Carr with a breach notice alleging a breach of the NRL Code of Conduct following an investigation by the NRL Integrity Unit into an incident in Tuggerah on Saturday September 30, 2023.,” read a statement on Friday.
“It is alleged that Addo-Carr engaged in conduct which brought the game into disrepute by punching an opposing player in the head after a match during the NSW AnnualAboriginal Rugby League knockout competition.
“Addo-Carr has five business days to respond to the notice of violation.”
The Koori Knockout, one of Australia’s largest Indigenous gatherings, is a highly anticipated rugby league competition held every October long weekend in Tuggerah.
The tournament attracts thousands of Aboriginal people from across New South Wales, merging community celebrations with an intense display of rugby skills.
The Koori Knockout is unique in that it offers players from local national leagues the opportunity to compete against NRL stars like Latrell Mitchell.
The Kangaroos play their first Pacific Championship test match against Samoa in Townsville on October 14, followed by the Kiwis at AAMI Park in Melbourne on October 28.
