Cronulla Sharks become first NRL club to ban Mad Monday

THE Cronulla Sharks have become the first NRL club to ban Mad Monday and the binge drinking that goes with it.

TOWNSVILLE, AUSTRALIA - SEPTEMBER 19: Wade Graham of the Sharks is placed on report during the Second NRL Semi Final match between the North Queensland Cowboys and the Cronulla Sharks at 1300SMILES Stadium on September 19, 2015 in Townsville, Australia. (Photo by Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images)

THE Cronulla Sharks have become the first NRL club to ban Mad Monday and the binge drinking that goes with it.

“You won’t see a drunk footballer around the Shire today,” declared CEO Lyall Gorman.

A brave statement considering the team’s antics last year when the club was fined $10,000 by the NRL for players threatening a newspaper photographer.

The players were told after Saturday night’s loss to the Cowboys there would be no Mad Monday.

Instead they received a text message Monday morning with an invitation to a low-key barbeque at Sharks Leagues Club.

“I spoke to Shane (Flanagan) about it over the weekend,” Gorman said.

“Mad Mondays no longer exist at our place. We’ve grown above all that and we don’t believe in it.

“We’re not partying because we’re building towards next year — starting today. It’s business as usual.”

Even after the game on Saturday night in Townsville, the players kept it low key.

None of them looked hung over at the airport or on the Sharks plane coming home.

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The Sharks attracted controversy after Mad Monday last season.

“We’re very focused on our image and everyone is conscious of what happened last year. “ Gorman said.

The Sharks knocked back requests for photos at the players BBQ.

“We don’t need to get the message out in the media because the only way we can show people is by our behaviour,” Gorman said.

Skipper Paul Gallen said the players all accepted the ban.

“It’s a shame but times have changed with the media and you just can’t get on it anymore,” Gallen said. “It doesn’t worry me and I wasn’t even there last year. It’s just a fact of life.”