NRL slams Bulldogs with huge $250,000 fine over Mad Monday

THE NRL has handed down one of its toughest ever sanctions on the Canterbury Bulldogs with a whopping $250,000 fine for their drunken Mad Monday antics. Two players have now been charged following the night of mayhem.

• Buzz: Mad Monday antics damage the game
• Kent: Players need to live up to the game

THE NRL has handed down one of its toughest ever sanctions on the Canterbury Bulldogs with a whopping $250,000 fine for their drunken Mad Monday antics.

The Bulldogs were informed of the penalty on Thursday afternoon by NRL chief executive Todd Greenberg after the integrity unit completed a snap investigation into the players’ drunken behaviour that hijacked the game on the eve of the finals.

Three players — Adam Elliott, Asipeli Fine and Marcelo Montoya — are also facing individual fines from the Bulldogs totalling $40,000 for their misbehaviour.

Police have also charged Adam Elliott and Asipeli Fine with wilful and obscene exposure while reserve grader Zac Woolford has been issued with an infringement notice and fined $660.

The Harbour View Hotel were issued two infringement notices for permitting indecent behaviour and three for permitting intoxication.

The NRL has handed down tough sanctions following the Bulldogs' Mad Monday.

In a statement, the NRL said:

“The NRL today issued the Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs with a breach notice proposing a fine of $250,000 relating to the club’s post-season function.”

CEO Todd Greenberg said the proposed penalty reflects the seriousness of the behaviour and the damage which has been caused to the game.

He said three players are under police investigation and the build up to the first week of the finals series has been badly damaged by the failure of the Bulldogs to properly manage the event.

The Harbour View Hotel has been issued five infringement notices.

Mr Greenberg said the NRL had:

• Obtained a report from Bulldogs management on what happened at the event

• Interviewed the club CEO, Andrew Hill

• Reviewed other material relating to the event.

“The club organised the event and failed to implement the most basic of measures to ensure it was conducted in an appropriate way,” Mr Greenberg said.

“The club’s failure to manage the event followed specific directives to all clubs to ensure these type of events do not damage our game.

“The players’ behaviour embarrassed themselves, their club and the game on the eve of the Finals Series.”

Bulldogs players have already been fined by the club for their antics.

Speaking on Thursday, Bulldogs CEO Andrew Hill said they accepted that the behaviour was inappropriate but he did not indicate whether he would challenge the fine’s severity.

Hill handed down $25,000 fines to Adam Elliott and Asipeli Fine — of which $10,000 is suspended — after the nude images of the pair appeared in the media. Marcelo Montoya and Zac Woolford were also fined $10,000, with $5000 suspended. No staff present at the event have been were sanctioned.

“These are good people who have acted in an immature and juvenile way. They have accepted responsibility for their actions and have apologised to the club for their behaviour,” Hill said.

It’s the biggest fine the NRL has ever handed down for behavioural issues. By comparison, two years ago Mitchell Pearce was fined $125,000 over his lewd Australia Day video.

Andrew Hill addresses the media on Thursday. Picture by Damian Shaw

The penalty proposed by the NRL has been influenced strongly by the fact that the club organised the event, senior club officials were present and some of the activities took place in an area which is in view of the general public.

“The actions of some players and officials was inexcusable and we are determined to send a message that it will not be tolerated on this occasion — or in the future,” Mr Greenberg said.

“There has been a real improvement in player behaviour this year — and we should all acknowledge that.

“But to have this kind of incident on the eve of our finals is more than disappointing and there has to be a deterrent to ensure we have no repeat of this behaviour.”

Mr Greenberg said the NRL expects the club to take the lead on sanctions against players and staff involved.

He said the club’s response will be taken into consideration when the final penalty is determined.

Mr Greenberg said the Bulldogs have five business days to respond to the breach notice before a final determination is made.

Originally published as NRL slams Bulldogs with huge $250,000 fine over Mad Monday