By 3 News online staff
There are calls for ‘Mad Monday’ to be scrapped while the Canterbury Bulldogs will contribute A$30,000 (NZ$37,350) to a nominated NRL charity to make up for the club’s behaviour at post-Grand Final celebrations.
Bulldogs management has been in damage control after losing 14-4 to the Melbourne Storm in the NRL Grand Final at the end of last month. Players were accused of making sexist remarks to a female reporter at their post-match celebrations.
ARLC interim chief executive Shane Mattiske says it is time for the term ‘Mad Monday’ to be scrapped from the game.
“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.”
Mr Mattiske says the Bulldogs’ behaviour and interaction with the media was inappropriate.
“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.”
NRL has accepted the Bulldogs’ offer of a donation as appropriate after a review into the incidents at the celebration.
The NRL found the language at the booze-up was “unquestionably offensive, loud and left open to interpretation” and players and guests were acting in a manner which could be seen as threatening.
It also found the club did not take proper steps to make sure members behaved in a responsible and professional way.
Bulldogs chief executive Todd Greenberg says the club deeply regrets the damage caused to the club and the game.
“We are the first to admit we should have handled things better.
“This is something that the whole club, the players and administration, have to take responsibility for and that is why the whole club will make a contribution to an NRL nominated charity.”
But he says there were inaccuracies in media reporting.
“The players are gutted and are deeply concerned that language used within the room has been interpreted as having been directed to the media.
“There was a lot of sledging going on between the players and they used language that was inappropriate.”
3 News