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Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs players charged over naked Mad Monday celebrations

The Bulldogs' celebrations of August 19 were a distant memory as the club was hit with a $250,000 fine.

The Bulldogs' celebrations of August 19 were a distant memory as the club was hit with a $250,000 fine. Photo: AAP

Three Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs players have been charged over their behaviour during the club’s Mad Monday celebrations.

News Corp published photographs of Bulldogs players partying without clothes on during the club’s end-of-season function at the Harbour View Hotel in the Rocks.

One player was photographed vomiting in the street.

NSW Police said a 23-year-old man and a 25-year-old man have been charged with wilful and obscene exposure and are set to appear at the Downing Centre Local Court on October 24.

A third man has been fined for offensive conduct.

The Harbour View Hotel has been issued five penalty notices: two for permitting indecent behaviour on a licensed premises, and three for permitting intoxication.

The NRL has also fined the Bulldogs $250,000 over the behaviour.

NRL chief executive Todd Greenberg said the penalty reflected the seriousness of the behaviour and the damage caused to the game.

“The club organised the event and failed to implement the most basic of measures to ensure it was conducted in an appropriate way,” Mr Greenberg said.

“The club’s failure to manage the event followed specific directives to all clubs to ensure these type of events do not damage our game.

“The players’ behaviour embarrassed themselves, their club and the game on the eve of the finals series.”

The NRL issued the club a breach notice proposing the $250,000 fine and said the proposed punishment was influenced by the fact the club organised the event, senior club officials were present and the players’ actions took place in view of the general public.

“The actions of some players and officials was inexcusable and we are determined to send a message that it will not be tolerated on this occasion — or in the future,” Mr Greenberg said.

“There has been a real improvement in player behaviour this year — and we should all acknowledge that.

“But to have this kind of incident on the eve of our finals is more than disappointing and there has to be a deterrent to ensure we have no repeat of this behaviour.”

Players were ‘immature and juvenile’

Adam Elliott was handed a $25,000 fine, with $10,000 suspended. Photo: Getty

Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs chief executive Andrew Hill said the club was “disappointed at the severity of the fine” and had not yet decided if it would appeal against the decision.

“The club accepts that the images and behaviour from the team get-together on Monday were unacceptable and extremely bad look for the game,” Mr Hill said.

“It’s a significant fine and it’s a significant punishment for the club.”

Mr Hill announced the club had handed down sanctions to four players, who he described as “good people who have acted in an immature and juvenile way”.

Adam Elliott and Asipeli Fine each copped a $25,000 fine with $10,000 suspended, while Marcelo Montoya and Zac Woolford were fined $10,000 with $5000 suspended.

No sanctions have been handed down to club officials who were present.

Mr Hill said the club would hold a full review of the incident and “put steps in place to make sure that this situation never happens again”.

“It’s fair to say that it’s highly unlikely that post-season celebrations such as what occurred on Monday will happen again,” he said.

ABC

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