The NRL has announced big penalties for the Panthers stars involved in the premiership trophy scandal. Another star has been stood down.
The NRL has handed down significant fines for three Penrith stars who have brought the game into disrepute following the wild grand final victory celebrations.
The NRL announced on Tuesday Panthers captain Nathan Cleary, Stephen Crichton and Tyrone May have been issued breach notices.
The trio will have five days to respond to the breach of contract notices before the punishments are locked in.
Cleary has been fined $7000 and Crichton has been hit with a $4000 after they were seen in photos posted on social media showing disrespect to the NRL premiership trophy after it had reportedly been broken during a staff function.
The NRL had announced earlier this month it was investigating photos from inside the Panthers’ wild grand final celebrations which showed the premiership trophy had been broken.
The broken Provan-Summons Trophy was paraded around in social media posts during the wild celebrations that have seen the club come under fire this month.
Crichton was snapped carrying the trophy in a pram.
The NRL also whacked May with a $7500 fine over the social media post that was interpreted by many to be a reference to his sex tape scandal.
The Panthers responded to the breach notice by standing May down from all club duties for an indefinite period.
May will have to face the club’s board of directors this month. His future is now uncertain at the club.
May had earlier deleted the post, which included lyrics from the song Fair Trade by Canadian rapper Drake.
“And the dirt that they threw on my name/turned to soil and I grew up out it/time for y’all to figure out what y’all gon’ do about it,” the caption read.
The futures of Cleary and Crichton are not under threat.
The NRL’s statement mentions the pair have been issued their breach notice specifically for “acting in a manner that showed disrespect towards the individuals depicted in the iconic moment memorialised by the Trophy”.
It comes just days after rugby league was left in mourning following the death of Norm Provan at the age of 88.
Panthers CEO Brian Fletcher released a statement surrounding the penalties handed down to Cleary and Crichton.
“The Panthers players had no intention to show disrespect towards the trophy, Norm Provan or Arthur Summons, however they understand that’s how their actions may have been interpreted,” he said.
“Everyone at Panthers is well aware of the immense contributions Norm and Arthur made to our game and the high esteem in which they are held by everyone involved in Rugby League.
“On behalf of the club I sincerely apologise for any offence or distress this matter may have caused the Rugby League community and particularly the Provan and Summons families.”
It is just one of many social media scandals that have erupted this month following the team’s win over South Sydney.
May was also filmed using an offensive slur during teammate Viliame Kikau’s Instagram live Q+A.
May has had a tumultuous week following Penrith’s grand final win on Sunday night, having earlier attracted a backlash surrounding his deleted Instagram caption.
Rumours have also spread this month that May is in a romantic relationship with Panthers coach Ivan Cleary’s daughter Indi. after the pair were seen together in images they shared on Instagram.
Kikau has also come under fire for appearing to mock the Rabbitohs by singing the club’s ‘Glory, glory to South Sydney’ song
Kikau’s live video showed May approaching the camera alongside Kikau before saying: “I don’t give a f***. F*** every motherf***er, n***er”.
Panthers club legend and board member Greg Alexander last week tore strips off the players at his club.
Alexander, who is the deputy chairman of the Panthers Group board of directors, believes some of the players went too far in their celebrations.
“There have been a couple of social media things that haven’t impressed me,” Alexander said on SEN Radio.
“I think a couple of our players need to pull their heads in after what they’ve posted on social media.
“It gets a bit out of control. I don’t follow social media.
“I’ve had people tell me about what’s been posted, and some of it shouldn’t have been.
“It was a bit out of line.”
For all the latest Sports News Click Here
