Police investigating NRL champion over alleged 3am incident….
Who: Canberra Raiders star Josh Papalii (aged 32 at the time).
ACT Police were called at about 3:10 AM on Monday, 16 September 2024, to a licensed venue in Canberra’s Gungahlin area where three men—including Papalii—allegedly “behaved aggressively,” smashed glasses, refused to leave when asked, and re‑entered after initially leaving. On police arrival, Papalii is alleged to have verbally abused and threatened both staff and officers.
Legal Proceedings:
He was issued two court attendance notices, one each for:
Intimidating police, and
Failing to quit a licensed premises.
Club Response & Integrity Unit:
The Canberra Raiders acknowledged awareness of the incident and confirmed they had reported it to the NRL Integrity Unit.
Next Steps / Plea:
Papalii has indicated he will plead not guilty, with his matter set to return to court for a pre-hearing in early 2025, and a hearing expected in February 2025.
Let me know if you’d like more details on court outcomes, the club’s or NRL’s follow-ups, or implications for his playing status.
