titanstattman
09-06-09, 08:25 PM
Moments after announcing Joel Clinton had copped a record $50,000 fine, Broncos boss Bruno Cullen revealed just how close the NRL club came to sacking the former Test prop.
The front-rower was hauled in front of the Broncos board on Tuesday after being “sprung'' with a woman in the team's Sydney hotel ahead of their May 22 NRL clash against Wests Tigers.
It appeared a minor offence compared to the infamous nightclub cubicle incident that earned Karmichael Hunt, Sam Thaiday and Darius Boyd the club's largest previous fine - $20,000.
Indeed no Bronco involved in the club's previous three off-field incidents of the last nine months had been sacked, despite them involving sexual assault allegations, urinating in public and charges of disorderly behaviour.
Cullen did not want to compare Clinton's breach with previous incidents, saying each one was “unique''.
But he confirmed Clinton's $275,000-a-season contract was in real danger of being ripped up over the club code of conduct breach.
Clinton has also been stood down for Friday night's NRL clash against the Bulldogs at Suncorp Stadium.
“It (sacking) is always an option and all options were seriously considered,'' Cullen said.
“I am sure he did (think he was going to be sacked).
“I have not seen a man more remorseful for what he had done.''
The Broncos were initially tightlipped over the nature of Clinton's breach after they suspended him from last Friday night's game at Melbourne, sparking a flurry of rumours.
In the end Clinton released a statement last weekend detailing the incident.
He claimed he had been in contact with the woman for a month and arranged a face to face meeting for the first time at the hotel the night before the Wests Tigers clash.
When Cullen finally touched on the details on Tuesday, he said Clinton had breached club rules put in place to avoid a repeat of sex scandals that had given the code a black eye.
“No females are allowed on the floor of the hotel where the players are, let alone in a player's room,'' he said.
“That was brought in a few years ago.
“We found that most ... sexual assault claims (in rugby league) and the like, it was about the living environment of a team on a trip.
“It was about (a woman) being in a room with one, two or more players.
“It was a real measure to prevent them getting into a situation that other people have got themselves into and got into terrible trouble over.''
Cronulla are still suffering from the fallout over the 2002 group sex scandal that claimed the high profile scalp of Matt Johns.
Cullen said the board considered recent off-field events in the NRL when they pondered the severity of Clinton's fine.
“This is the largest fine we have ever issued,'' he said.
“As the punches get harder hopefully the message starts to sink through.''
Despite their long history of player indiscretions, Cullen refused to confirm that the next to fall out of line would be axed.
An “embarrassed'' Clinton arrived back in Brisbane on Monday night after spending the last week in Sydney.
He will not return to Broncos training until next week.
The fine will go to charity.
www.foxsports.com.au
The front-rower was hauled in front of the Broncos board on Tuesday after being “sprung'' with a woman in the team's Sydney hotel ahead of their May 22 NRL clash against Wests Tigers.
It appeared a minor offence compared to the infamous nightclub cubicle incident that earned Karmichael Hunt, Sam Thaiday and Darius Boyd the club's largest previous fine - $20,000.
Indeed no Bronco involved in the club's previous three off-field incidents of the last nine months had been sacked, despite them involving sexual assault allegations, urinating in public and charges of disorderly behaviour.
Cullen did not want to compare Clinton's breach with previous incidents, saying each one was “unique''.
But he confirmed Clinton's $275,000-a-season contract was in real danger of being ripped up over the club code of conduct breach.
Clinton has also been stood down for Friday night's NRL clash against the Bulldogs at Suncorp Stadium.
“It (sacking) is always an option and all options were seriously considered,'' Cullen said.
“I am sure he did (think he was going to be sacked).
“I have not seen a man more remorseful for what he had done.''
The Broncos were initially tightlipped over the nature of Clinton's breach after they suspended him from last Friday night's game at Melbourne, sparking a flurry of rumours.
In the end Clinton released a statement last weekend detailing the incident.
He claimed he had been in contact with the woman for a month and arranged a face to face meeting for the first time at the hotel the night before the Wests Tigers clash.
When Cullen finally touched on the details on Tuesday, he said Clinton had breached club rules put in place to avoid a repeat of sex scandals that had given the code a black eye.
“No females are allowed on the floor of the hotel where the players are, let alone in a player's room,'' he said.
“That was brought in a few years ago.
“We found that most ... sexual assault claims (in rugby league) and the like, it was about the living environment of a team on a trip.
“It was about (a woman) being in a room with one, two or more players.
“It was a real measure to prevent them getting into a situation that other people have got themselves into and got into terrible trouble over.''
Cronulla are still suffering from the fallout over the 2002 group sex scandal that claimed the high profile scalp of Matt Johns.
Cullen said the board considered recent off-field events in the NRL when they pondered the severity of Clinton's fine.
“This is the largest fine we have ever issued,'' he said.
“As the punches get harder hopefully the message starts to sink through.''
Despite their long history of player indiscretions, Cullen refused to confirm that the next to fall out of line would be axed.
An “embarrassed'' Clinton arrived back in Brisbane on Monday night after spending the last week in Sydney.
He will not return to Broncos training until next week.
The fine will go to charity.
www.foxsports.com.au