NSW Blues and Cronulla captain Paul Gallen has been fined $50,000 by the NRL and banned from Australian Kangaroos selection for an offensive tweet posted last week.
Gallen was critical of the NRL last week after it was announced Sharks CEO Steve Noyce had been removed from the job, saying that Noyce “actually cared about players from Cronulla’s feelings. Couldn’t say that about any other c—t from NRL.”
Gallen has today been reprimanded by the NRL, copping a hefty fine as well as being ineligible for selection for the national team in 2015 until he completed a “leader’s accountability course”. The ARLC will determine whether he is fit to return after the completion of the course.
NRL CEO Dave Smith said the tweet was “offensive and a clear breach of the Code of Conduct.”
The NRL’s statement says that Gallen has seven days to respond, but it’s unlikely a contrite Gallen would fight the penalty.
“A breach notice has been issued to Gallen, giving him seven days to state why the fine should not be imposed.
“He will be free to put forward any mitigating factors as part of his response.”
Gallen was on holiday at the time of the tweet.
On whether the victorious State of Origin skipper would remain in the position in 2015, Smith said he still had to discuss it with the NSWRL.
“Origin is one of our flagship properties and we do not want it to be undermined in any way,” Smith said.
He has reportedly attempted to contact Smith to apologise for the outburst.
Sharks chairman Damian Keogh was in agreement with the NRL over the sanctions.
“The last two years have been a difficult period for the Sharks and our focus is on performing strongly on and off the field in 2015,” he said.
“So it is disappointing to have the club involved in this sort of issue as we prepare for next season.”
It has been a difficult period for Gallen, who is currently serving a suspension after accepting the ban handed down by ASADA for breaching anti-doping regulations during the 2011 season.
He will be eligible to take to the field again in the 2015 NRL season, due to the backdated nature of the suspensions.
Meanwhile, Gallen responded briefly to reports he is suffering from depression at a boxing promotion on Monday in Sydney.
Gallen said he supports people with depression and encourages them to talk about it, but doesn’t want to go public about his reported battle with that problem.
“It’s an issue that’s hard for me to talk about at the moment,” Gallen said.
“It’s something that I support, the people that come out and talk about it and encourage them to talk about it.”
Shouts Chen
Guest
Everyone hates him for his useless tweet.
Greg
Guest
Seems to be they have made a decision and the fine has been defined... I thin a tribunal should have met, but that is the next step I guess after the appeal
Greg
Guest
Not very
Nonu
Guest
The integrity unit can pretend they are investigating it and then bury it when the media cycle moves on to something else...
Nonu
Guest
Tah dan It appears the gallen saga is far from decided - do you wish to reconsider???
Jay (the other one)
Guest
Or, he could have acted like an adult and elder statesman of the game and put his gripe and opinion out there in an adult way. Instead he chose to use the tone and language of an immature schoolboy. Nothing to do with do gooders, it's to do with expecting a leader of the game to conduct himself like a leader.
Nonu
Guest
My comment was general - you and others were applauding the decision yet Gallen had no right to put his case, the penalty is odd because he is banned form Australia and not NSW whereas the offence relates to no rep duty and it is not over yet. The RL will just bury it like the Burgess GF decision - how come he was not assessed on his break lwhere he could have lost his sight let alone concussion by someone other than a trainer - would they lose an interchange - there is fair dinkum madness =
Jackson Henry
Roar Guru
I don't entirely agree, but not an unreasonable argument in the end. My criticism of him is that his decision-making ability isn't great - both on and off the field, which is why he's not in the upper echelon in my opinion. I differ on the Test selection thing. If there's ever a way to get the penny to drop, this is it - figure out what he wants and take it away from him until he learns to behave like the rest of civilisation. From what I hear, it's like raising kids. I'm trying to convince myself he'll think of this next time...but the precedent isn't strong is it. Probably time for him to go anyway. His legacy is actually quite tragic, in all honesty. He could have contributed so much more to the game if he just learnt some maturity and accountability. You don't wish ill-will on anyone. But at the same time you have to be accountable for your actions - and all we've ever heard from Gallen is that it's someone else's fault.
Mick Gold Coast QLD
Roar Guru
What a strange attitude for this adult fellow to hold. Rugby league has provided him a handsome income and accolades yet he speaks of it in the most disparaging manner. When the administrators take offence at his offensive attack and penalise him for it he squeals like a bay. Is he not so tough and strong after all? Did he expect reward?
Hoy
Roar Guru
Gallen has a history of playing the "hard done by" game. It annoys me.
Squidward
Roar Rookie
$50k for the Gallen. That's an expensive day at the petrol bowser. Wouldn't be surprised if he just pulls the pin on footy and takes on boxing full time , won an origin, dare say could be a difficult year at the Sharkies with no halves, possible no Test footy, so not much else left for him to do, and you've got the NRL fining him without a hearing (even Pulver and the muppets at ARU gave Beale one) and you have Meninga and Thurston getting no reprimand for calling them Rats & filth and flat out cheats respectively. No wonder the last 2 golden boot winners left the sport
V.O.R.
Guest
Stain on the game
yewonk
Guest
Everyone knows what he did when he left parramatta and again 2011 he got what was coming.
yewonk
Guest
They heard all the evidence in june when it happened then tried to bury it. Why do you think mc kenzie really quit?
dayer
Guest
SHOCK HORROR ... he used it against the NRL management and that must be punished to you it's a opinion but to me it was a statement. opinion or statement, he brought the game into disrepute. and he must be punished.
Renegade
Guest
Cheers kingcowboy, saved me the time of writing that. So what part of my post were you responding to nonu? Anyways no need to get your panties in a twist ... All good, lets move on.
Nonu
Guest
One administration was owned by News Corp for 15 years and now owned by Channel Nine - how ironic is that
Nonu
Guest
Unlike you Aussies, I can do 2 things at once and can combine one answer from 2 previous statements. Unlike you I don't jump to conclusions until I have all the facts. Unlike you I don't stereotype people (unless I am being an ironic Aussie which I am) .
In Brief
Guest
Shock horror, Gallen had an opinion and used foul language. Every woman in Australia must still be in shock. We really have become a puritanical country full of self righteous do gooders.
Kingcowboy
Guest
But you replied to Renegade's message Nonu. I can't understand why they allow Kiwis to come on this site. Logical points have never been a strong point of Kiwis.