Kiwis pair Jesse Bromwich and Kevin Proctor have been ruled out of the season-ending 2017 Rugby League World Cup, with the New Zealand Rugby League announcing both players won't be considered for selection following an off-field incident in the early hours of Saturday morning.
Bromwich has been suspended for two weeks by his club side the Melbourne Storm and has also been removed from the club's leadership group, while Proctor has stood down as co-captain of the TItans, with further sanctions yet to be determined.
Kiwis coach David Kidwell said via a NZRL statement it was crucial the national side upheld their values.
"I can't express my disappointment enough in their actions in the early hours of Saturday morning," Kidwell said.
"We have values to upload, they have broken my trust, their teammates' trust and the trust of the New Zealand public.
"In our Te Iwi Kiwi house, no one is bigger than the team.
"Now we move forward and focus on the Rugby League World Cup."
Kidwell's decision was supported by NZRL CEO Alex Hayton, who added: "NZRL and the Kiwis will continue to work hard to ensure the people of New Zealand are proud to support our teams both on and off the field."
