Monaghan to quit Raiders over lewd photo7 November 2010, 2:26 pmDisgraced Australian rugby league player Joel Monaghan will quit the Canberra Raiders after a photo of him involved in a lewd act with a dog surfaced on Twitter.
The 27-year-old told
News Limited he will inform his club of his decision to break his two-year contract tomorrow.
Monaghan described the photo as a “stupid prank” but the club’s chief executive, Don Furner, is appalled.
“It is something he will live with for the rest of his life. It’s a big cross to bear for doing something out on the drink,” he says.
Monaghan released a statement through his agent Jim Banaghan apologising and claiming full responsibility for the disgraceful incident.
"Joel can't blame anyone but himself for an act of stupidity that will haunt him for the rest of his life," Banaghan said.
"Joel wants to make it clear that he was the one playing a prank on an absent teammate by simulating the act.
"There are no words of explanation that can be offered because none can be appropriate.
"Joel has to now face his family as well as fans and supporters with that shame and has already undergone counselling to help him cope with the consequences of what has happened.
"It was a moment of abject stupidity brought about by too much drink and a complete lack of any thought process.
"The fact that someone has sought to compound the situation further by the use of social media only adds to the trauma, but Joel accepts that it is his actions alone that are at fault."
3 News
Source: 3News
Topic: Monaghan to quit Raiders over lewd photo
