NZ Warriors fullback Reece Walsh has been ruled ineligible to win the NRL's Dally M Rookie of the Year award - but not for his arrest on the Gold Coast on Sunday.
The teenage prodigy was found in possession of cocaine, and has been charged with one count of possession of a prohibited substance and will appear in court in October. Walsh will also undertake drug and alcohol counselling.
But the arrest has played no part in Walsh being ruled out of the Rookie of the Year award - he has been wiped from contention after two suspensions from the NRL judiciary.
Walsh was given a one-game suspension for striking North Queensland Cowboys forward Mitchell Dunn in June, as well as copping another one-game ban for his role in the Warriors' end-of-season fracas against Gold Coast Titans.
That incident will see Walsh miss the opening round of the 2022 NRL season.
Walsh was among the favourites to win the newcomer award, after claiming the same honour at the Rugby League Players Association awards this month.
Instead, Sydney Roosters halfback Sam Walker is the frontrunner for the NRL award, after losing out to Walsh for the RLPA title.
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