09:00 AEST Wed Feb 16 2011
Rugby League Week returns for a new season with a fresh new look and a stunning exclusive with former Raider Joel Monaghan, who is trying to pick up the pieces of his career at English Super League club Warrington.
In RLW this week, Monaghan tells Steve Mascord how he conceived, staged, and directed the infamous photo which looks to have ended his NRL career.
In his first interview since leaving the Raiders last November, Monaghan tells RLW A-List he did more than just allow himself to be photographed engaging in a simulated sex act with a dog on Mad Monday last year, creating a global media firestorm.
"It was me, it was my idea," Monaghan said.
"I set the photo up. It wasn't (team-mates and friends that did) it, it was me.
"It wasn't sent out, it wasn't taken, to hurt me."
Monaghan kicked off his Warrington career at the Millennium Magic weekend in Cardiff and Mascord was on hand in Wales to capture all the colour of that Super League spectacular as well.
READ THE COMPELLING FULL INTERVIEW WITH JOEL MONAGHAN IN RLW THIS WEEK
ALSO IN RLW'S FIRST ISSUE FOR 2011:
* RABBIT HUNTING... Eels and Warriors lead the race for star Souths hooker Issac Luke, who comes off contract this season.
* AS VALUABLE AS LOCKYER... Broncos greats insist comeback king Justin Hodges is now just as important to Brisbane as Darren Lockyer .
* MARK GEYER... RLW's hard-hitting columnist nominates the three players he expects to tear up the NRL in 2011, and three rookies to watch out for.
PLUS... The 10 Biggest Questions of 2011, Matt Orford, Andrew Ryan, Brent Kite, Adam Woolnough and your chance to WIN one of five pairs of Asics Lethal Flash boots valued at $160 each.