Bulldogs hit with record fine over Mad Monday embarrassment

Canterbury have been slugged with a record $250,000 fine by the NRL while Bulldogs players have been charged by police and copped another $90,000 in sanctions for their Mad Monday antics.

NRL CEO Todd Greenberg has sought to draw a line in the sand 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.

Adam Elliott, 23, and Asipeli Fine, 25, were both fined $25,000 by the club with $10,000 suspended after they were photographed nude on the balcony of the Harbour View Hotel in Sydney’s The Rocks.

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

Marcelo Montoya – who was pictured having thrown up and passed out on the street – and Zac Woolford were also fined $10,000 by the club, half of which was suspended.

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

The hotel where the players ran amok has been hit with five penalty notices – two for permitting indecent behaviour and three for permitting intoxication on a licensed premises.

A police spokeswoman told AAP no further charges are expected.

Staff members including coach Dean Pay and football manager Gareth Holmes, who were present, will come under scrutiny as part of a club investigation.

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NRL CEO Todd Greenberg said he took a dim view of the incident given the event was organised by the club and senior officials.

It’s the biggest fine the NRL has ever handed down for behavioural issues.

By comparison, two years ago Mitchell Pearce was fined $125,000 over his lewd Australia Day video.

Greenberg, a former CEO of the Bulldogs, said he wanted to send a message after the drama diverted attention from the first week of the finals.

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

Several Bulldogs players are expected to cop fines as a result of the incident.

It’s reported that Adam Elliott and Asipeli Fine are each expected to be hit with $15,000 fines after they were photographed stripping naked on the hotel balcony.

Marcelo Montoya is expected to be fined $10,000 after he vomited and passed out on the pavement outside the hotel.

Club officials are also expected to be sanctioned.

“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,” 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.”

with AAP