Rugby League-Inglis says won't step down from Australia captaincy (UPDATE 1)

Australia's newly named rugby league captain Greg Inglis apologised on Tuesday after being caught drink-driving but said that while he knows he let a lot of people down he will not stand aside as skipper.

Inglis was charged by police in his home state of New South Wales on Monday just hours after being named the new Kangaroos skipper for tests against New Zealand and Tonga this month.

Australia test selector Laurie Daley said earlier on Tuesday he expected the South Sydney captain to step down after consulting with Kangaroos coach Mal Meninga.

But Inglis said he would await the outcome of an investigation by the National Rugby League.

"We'll just wait and see over probably the next 24 hours and we'll go from there," the 31-year-old Indigenous Australian told reporters in Sydney.

"I'm standing here before you put my hand up knowing that I did make a mistake. That's the bottom line. Like I keep on saying, I'm sorry, I'm very apologetic.

"I don't think I let my country down. I think I let a lot of people down where I stand in the game as a proud Indigenous role model, and I think I've let a lot of kids down."

Inglis was stopped by police near the town of Lithgow on the way back to Sydney after attending an Indigenous rugby league competition in Dubbo on Monday.

His licence was suspended and he was due to appear in Lithgow Court in November after being charged with "mid-range" drink-driving and speeding offences, state media reported.

Daley suggested Inglis's captaincy was untenable in the wake of the charges.

"It has to change things," he told the Big Sports Breakfast show on Sky Sports Radio.

"Greg's been a terrific leader for South Sydney and Queensland but I don't think you can have the Australian captain going DUI (driving under the influence).

"I'm pretty sure Greg and Mal will come to the decision that he needs to step down as captain of his country."

Inglis said he had spoken to Meninga and the coach had told him they would "just get through it".

He said he had also been given support by the Rabbitohs management and would continue to captain them.

The drink-driving charge is another black eye for Australian rugby league and comes two days after the NRL Grand Final ended in the controversy surrounding an injury cover-up by the victorious Sydney Roosters.

Roosters staff admitted to lying repeatedly about an injury to halfback Cooper Cronk ahead of the game against Melbourne Storm in a bid to influence their opponents' preparations.

The deceit was slammed on Tuesday by media pundits, who demanded the NRL tighten rules on injury disclosure.