NRL's call to ban Mad Monday meets with immediate and forceful opposition

THE NRL's call to ban Mad Monday was met with immediate and forceful opposition when rugby league legends declared: "Mad Monday must stay."

Mattiske - Mad Monday

THE NRL's controversial call to ban Mad Monday was met with immediate and forceful opposition last night when rugby league legends declared: "Mad Monday must stay."

Canterbury players yesterday avoided fines and suspensions when the NRL released its findings into the messy Mad Monday celebrations at Belmore Sports Ground last Monday week.

While saying Channel 9 had "incorrectly recounted" the exchange from players to the media, the NRL labelled the players' language "unquestionably offensive, loud and left open to interpretation".

For their part, the Bulldogs have agreed to donate $30,000 to charity.

The drama prompted ARLC interim chief executive Shane Mattiske to call on all clubs to scrap Mad Monday.

But former champion players said Mad Monday was a rugby league tradition.

"It might be seen as archaic but players deserve to let their hair down after a long year," Easts' team-of-the-century fullback Russell Fairfax said.

"It is intense for the entire season. There are no easy games. Mad Monday should stay but quite obviously it has to be more controlled."

Ex-Australian, NSW and Balmain hooker Benny Elias said: "No way for it be banned. It is the players' time for a blowout. They work so hard from November until October.

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"It is the players' celebration. The Bulldogs weren't hurting anyone. It was a private party and they were being harassed by the media."

Mark Carroll, who played for Manly, Souths and Penrith, was equally adamant.

Mattiske - Mad Monday

"It's been going on for years. You can't stop Mad Monday," he said. "It's closure after a long season. It's not just rugby league, every sport does it."

Mattiske thinks Mad Monday has reached its use-by date. "People should be able to celebrate the end of a season but regardless of whether it is at the end of the season or any other time of the year, they have a responsibility to abide by the game's agreed code of behaviour," he said.

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"There is no place for 'mad' behaviour at any level in our game. Calling something Mad Monday is almost an excuse to go over the top and it is time for clubs across all levels of the game to seriously review how end-of-year celebrations are planned.

"The focus needs to be more about modifying actual behaviour rather than keeping the public away."

The NRL reached yesterday's verdict after receiving a report from the Bulldogs about their Mad Monday, when a Channel 9 female reporter claimed she was the victim of vulgar and sexual comments.

Canterbury claim the comments attributed to players by Nine were inaccurate.

"The management of the function and the interaction with the media was in this case inappropriate," Mattiske said.

"Regardless of arguments about who the statements were directed towards, the language used was offensive, threatening and open to interpretation by anyone in hearing range.

"We accept the club has recognised this and their contribution to a nominated charity partner demonstrates a suitable outcome for all parties."Canterbury are expected to take internal action against gear steward Fred Ciraldo, who abused the media.

Bulldogs chief executive Todd Greenberg said his club regretted the damage the incident had caused rugby league.