Brisbane Broncos winger Josiah Karapani has apologised for drink driving after he was hit with a $350 fine and three-month driving disqualification.
Karapani, 24, was charged with driving with alcohol in his bloodstream while holding a provisional license.
‘I’m very sorry for my actions,’ he said outside the Holland Park Magistrates Court on Tuesday.
Karapani’s legal team told the court he had been drinking with friends on the night of June 27.
The following morning, after believing the alcohol was no longer in his system, he drove his car.
He was then pulled over by police on the Pacific Motorway, before registering a 0.037 blood alcohol reading.
Josiah Karapani (pictured) has apologised outside court after pleading guilty to a drink-driving offence
The 24-year-old (pictured) has been fined $350 and disqualified from driving for three months
Karapani’s lawyer said his client ‘miscalculated’ and was ‘remorseful.
The 24-year-old was also hit with several other infringement notices on the night.
He received notices for driving an unregistered vehicle and uninsured vehicle, failing to display P1 plates, and exceeding the speed limit by at least 11 kilometers per hour.
The court heard Karapani had no criminal or traffic history up until this point – and was awaiting further punishment by the NRL Integrity Unit.
Magistrate Kerrie O’Callaghan said the offence was ‘out of character’ for the young footballer.
‘I note you have a career as a successful football player and that’s ongoing,’ she said.
‘I also note that you’re going to suffer the extra-curial punishment as a result of the steps taken by the NRL Integrity Unit.’
Karapani avoided a criminal conviction, and was ordered to pay the $350 fine.
In the immediate aftermath of the charges being laid, Karapani’s club announced he would not be available for selection this weekend as a result of the incident.
Karapani (pictured left) has been involved in multiple off-field incidents this year
The latest setback comes just months after Karapani was disciplined over another off-field matter.
In March, he was fined $1001 for a public nuisance offence following a verbal altercation with members of the public outside a Fortitude Valley venue.
Although he was not criminally charged over that incident, Broncos coach Michael Maguire dropped him from the side.
‘We are creating a culture here that we believe will take us to the success of what keeps the Broncos at the highest level,’ Maguire said at the time.
‘I really believe in Josiah, I’ve seen him develop over the past 12 months.
‘He has been able to show that he can play at the highest level… but you have to make sure that everything around you is in the right place to do that, week in, week out.’
