NRL slashes fine for lewd behaviour

CANTERBURY has had its NRL fine for its lewd Mad Monday celebrations halved.

The club was fined $250,000 after Adam Elliott and Asipeli Fine were photographed nude while celebrating at a Sydney pub.

The NRL said yesterday it had reduced the Bulldogs’ fine to $125,000 after taking into account the club’s submission.

A spokesman said the Bulldogs had acknowledged the seriousness of the breach and apologised caused.

The club has also committed to put measures in place to ensure there is no repeat.

“Under those circumstances, the NRL will suspend half the original fine,” the spokesman said.

“However, the suspended part of the fine will be reimposed if there is any material breach of the code of conduct during the next two years.

“This incident should act as a reminder to all clubs and club officials it is imperative to take extra precautions when organising club-sanctioned events.” for the damage

Bulldogs chief executive Andrew Hill and chairwoman Lynne Anderson said the findings acknowledged how closely the club had worked with the governing body since the fine was imposed.

They said Bulldogs management had acted swiftly to improve procedures and ensure there was no repeat.

Anderson said the club had learned from the experience.

“We acknowledge that some of the behaviours on the day were a poor look for the club and the game, and we have reviewed everything that took place,” she said.

“What we also need to remember here, however, is that good people will sometimes make mistakes and that should not take away from the fact that these same people have done a great deal in the community on behalf of the club and will continue to do so.”

NRL chief executive Todd Greenberg came down hard after images of Bulldogs players dancing naked on a pub balcony and passed out on the street delivered the code a black eye on the eve of the finals.

The $250,000 fine was the biggest handed down to a club for player misbehaviour.

Elliott, 23, and Fine, 25, were fined $25,000 by the Bulldogs with $10,000 suspended after they were photographed nude on the balcony of a hotel in Sydney’s The Rocks.

NSW Police have confirmed two men aged 23 and 25 were issued with court attendance notices for wilful and obscene exposure and are due to face Downing Centre Local Court on October 24.

Police said a third man had been issued with an infringement notice for offensive conduct.