Former Bulls forward Tom Burgess is set to benefit from the axing of twin brother George in the latest scandal to hit Australian rugby league by making his NRL debut in front of England coach Steve McNamara.

George has been banned for two games and fined 10,000 Australian dollars (£6,100) after being arrested and charged with two counts of causing wilful damage to property.

He is due to appear before magistrates in Cairns on July 10.

The South Sydney prop is alleged to have hurled a street sign into a car windscreen in Cairns in the early hours of Monday morning after celebrating his team’s 30-24 NRL win over Gold Coast Titans.

“George has obviously made a mistake but he’s put his hand up and is looking to move forward,” Souths’ former Wigan coach Michael Maguire said.

“He’s a great role model and a great kid and I’m sure he’ll get back to where he’s capable of getting to.”

George has enjoyed a sensational start to the season, with some tremendous impact off the bench for the table-topping Rabbitohs, and is thought to have played himself into contention for a spot in England’s World Cup squad alongside older brother Sam.

Now Tom, who linked up with the rest of his three Dewsbury-born brothers in Sydney at the start of the season and has since been joined by their mother Julie, has been called into Maguire’s team for Sunday’s game against Parramatta, which McNamara will watch as part of his fact-finding trip to Australia.

Tom, also a barnstorming prop who played in all but three of the Bulls’ 27 Super League matches last season, has caught the eye playing for Souths’ reserves this year and has been handed George’s place on the bench for the clash with the Eels.

“It’s a great story for Tom,” said Maguire. “I thought in the last month he really turned the corner to get in this team. It’s well deserved.”

Both twins played for England Knights against Ireland and Scotland last autumn while brother Luke, the former Leeds prop, was a non-playing member of the full England squad for the series against France and Wales.

Sam missed those games through injury but will be one of the first names on McNamara’s team sheet for the World Cup opener against Australia in Cardiff on October 26.

George was also in the frame after making 16 NRL appearances so far this year and it remains to be seen if he has damaged his prospects with his uncharacteristic lapse in discipline.

Yesterday he issued a public apology through his club, saying: “I have let my team and my family down.

“I acknowledge that I am a role model for kids and I will do everything I can to restore my reputation through working harder in the community.

“It is my responsibility to ensure that this type of behaviour does not happen again.

“I will learn from my mistake and bounce back stronger and better as a person.”

In addition to being fined, Souths say Burgess will pay for the cost of the damage, undergo an anger management course and undertake 50 hours of community support work.

“George accepts he’s done the wrong thing and that there has to be a price,” said Rabbitohs chief executive Shane Richardson.

“For someone on his contract level it is a big price to pay and he still has to deal with the issue in court.

“We will support him because he has faced up to what he has done and because this isn’t reflective of his general behaviour at the club.”

The Burgess incident is the latest unsavoury episode to hit the NRL, with Canberra winger Blake Ferguson becoming the second New South Wales player to be suspended on the eve of the second State of Origin match after being charged with indecent assault.

NRL chief executive Dave Smith said the ruling body supported the stance taken by Souths over Burgess and insists the game will not tolerate bad behaviour.

“The fans and the players want to see an end to it,” Smith said.

“It’s not about issuing warnings, it is about taking the appropriate action.”