Shaun Lane labels Mad Monday incident a dumb ‘joke’

Parramatta star Shaun Lane has opened up on the now infamous images that cost him $17,500, revealing his regret at the situation while declaring the whole ordeal was a misunderstanding.

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Parramatta backrower Shaun Lane has denied taking illicit drugs during 2018 Mad Monday celebrations, describing the now infamous images of him holding an undisclosed bag of white powder as “a joke”.

A week after appearing on the front page of The Daily Telegraph, Lane has fronted media to explain a set of photographs which, taken during last year’s Mad Monday with his old club, the Manly Sea Eagles, has seen him fined $17,500 by the NRL Integrity Unit.

Despite confirming it had been him who initially posted the images up onto social media, the 24-year-old denied anything illegal had taken place and, instead, said it was simply a case of him acting like an “idiot”.

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Shaun Lane has opened up on his Mad Monday incident. Picture: Mark Kolbe

Asked what was in the small, plastic bag, Lane replied: “I went through a process with the Integrity Unit and told them everything.

“But, yeah, if there were suggestions it was an illicit substance or anything like that, I didn’t do anything illegal and that’s what they (the NRL) found as well.

“I’ve copped my punishment for what I’ve done and taken accountability for taking that photo, looking silly and bringing the game into disrepute.

“I’ve taken my punishment.”

So it was a joke?

“That’s essentially what it was,” he said. “It was seen as a joke by a bunch of people.

Lane pictured allegedly at his former club Manly on Mad Monday.

“(But) I had immediate regret for my actions and everything that I’d done.

“I felt like an idiot.”

Despite stressing nothing illegal had taken place, Lane said he had no problem with the size of the fine dished out.

“It’s worked out according to my salary and other fines they (the NRL) have handed out,” he said. “So that was the figure they came to and the explanation I was given was that it’s because I’ve made the game look bad, brought it into disrepute.

“And because of that I was willing to accept my punishment.

Lane spoke of his regret at the incident he labelled as a ‘joke’.

“I passed the photo around myself.

“I didn’t give any permission for it to go further but I’m the idiot who sent it out initially. It’s all on me ... starts and ends with me.

“I was the one silly enough to take the video and send it around of myself looking stupid and putting the game in a bad position. I take full accountability.”

Apart from the fine, Lane revealed he must also now present an address to both the entire Eels playing group and then the U/20s explaining the incident.

And as for his message?

“Don’t be an idiot,” he said. “It’s quite simple.

“It might have been a joke but at the end of the day it can look pretty bad and it has looked very bad.

“It’s put me on the front page of the paper looking like that and brought the game into a position where it doesn’t need, same with my club and Manly as well.

“I’m very apologetic and hopefully other players can learn from it and not put themselves in a similar position.”

Lane also suggested Mad Monday celebrations should not be stopped because of his incident.

“NRL players are very disciplined and it’s not often we get the chance to let our hair down and enjoy ourselves,” he said. “I think a lot of the celebrations are good and fun and nothing wrong is done.

“Quite often we take ourselves out of the public eye to not cause any dramas.

“But sometimes an idiot like me comes out takes a photo of himself doing something stupid and causes a drama.

“My family has taken it harder than me but it’s all over and done with now.”