Josiah Karapani NRL suspension, Digi Mart USA News: Josiah Karapani will miss the first two games of the 2027 NRL season after the league handed him a two-game sanction over a June drink-driving offence. He will also be required to undergo education and training as advised by the league and was handed a fine of $1500, which was suspended for a period of 12 months.
The Broncos previously stood down Karapani over the same incident, prompting a “please explain” from the Rugby League Players Association. In June, Karapani was stopped by Queensland Police on the Pacific Motorway after he was detected speeding at nearly 20km over the limit.
He was breathalysed and registered a blood alcohol reading of 0.037, above the provisional licence holder limit. He also received multiple other infringement notices for other offences, including “driving an unregistered vehicle,” which prompted the Brisbane club to notify the NRL’s Integrity Unit.
The Broncos took matters into their own hands, standing down Karapani for Brisbane’s round 18 game against Cronulla and instead playing him in the Queensland Cup. The Queensland Rugby League then stepped in, banning Karapani from playing for one of the Broncos’ feeder clubs in the Queensland Cup, which prompted the RLPA investigation.
In his court appearance in July, the winger pleaded guilty to the drink-driving offence, was fined $350 and disqualified from driving for three months. No conviction was recorded.
Karapani will now be on the sidelines as Michael Maguire aims to see his squad bounce back from a 14th-place finish in the 2026 season. The 24-year-old has a contract with the Broncos until the end of next season and, on November 1, entered NRL free agency for 2028 and beyond.
