Every National Rugby League player and official "is on notice to behave during their clubs' traditional Mad Monday celebrations this season," according to David Riccio of the Sydney DAILY TELEGRAPH. After the battering the game received following the Canterbury Bulldogs’ end-of-season embarrassment last year, NRL Integrity Unit COO Jim Doyle "has moved to ensure this year's Mad Monday is void of a similar scandal." In an email sent to all 16 NRL club CEOs, Doyle "strongly reminded every club and their players they must adhere to the NRL's strict code of conduct, while also warning of the use of social media, including Twitter and Facebook." Doyle wrote, "As we are all no doubt aware, there have been various issues over the years with respect to incidents occurring out of 'Mad Monday' celebrations that have had a negative impact on our brand and reputation." In a recent interview, new Canterbury CEO Raelene Castle said that "she had no intention of cancelling this year's Mad Monday once the Dogs bow out of the finals race." Castle: "I'd be a brave girl to come in here and say we're not having a Mad Monday" (DAILY TELEGRAPH, 9/6).
NRL NINES: In Auckland, Steve Deane reported "the prospect of a booze-fuelled Wellington Sevens-style crowd marauding around Mt Eden and Sandringham hasn't gone down well with the Eden Park Residents' Association." However, NRL Nines promoter Dean Lonergan insisted that "locals have nothing to fear from an event that is aiming to attract 96,000 spectators over two days each February." Association President Mark Donnelly said, "Two full days would create a number of issues. We've seen the problems in the past with alcohol consumption over long periods of time, both with one-day cricket and double-header league." Lonergan insisted that the family-friendly nature of the event, cheap food and water options and a hard line on excessive alcohol consumption "would ensure crowd behaviour issues were minimised." Lonergan: "We always want people to have fun but don't tell me for one second that getting pissed as a rat is having fun. You end up with a hangover the next day and people end up doing things that they regret" (NEW ZEALAND HERALD, 9/5).
