The Bulldogs have copped a $50,000 fine after five of the club's players broke COVID-19 protocols on a night out the Royal Hotel in Bondi last week.
The fine comes after NRL CEO Andrew Abdo told Nine's 100% Footy on Monday night that club management had mishandled the situation.
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The players involved were also hit with individual fines, with former Origin star Dylan Napa copping the stiffest whack – a $5000 fine.
Napa's fine was more than the other four players due to his standing in the game and his significantly higher salary than the other four players involved.
The other four players would get paid at the lower end of the scale in the context of NRL top 30 players, with Brandon Wakeham ($1,750), Corey Waddell ($1,500), Sione Katoa ($1,250) and Aaron Schoupp ($250) all copping penalties reflective of that.
The breach notice sent to the club by the NRL alleges that the Bulldogs failed to notify its squad of the harsher restrictions in place immediately after the NRL put them in place.
"The specifics of the notice allege the club failed to immediately notify its playing squad and football staff of additional restrictions that were placed on Sydney based NRL clubs on 17 June," a statement from the NRL reads..
"It also alleges when the club communicated the changes on 18 June, that it failed to effectively communicate the restrictions to ensure players and officials understood exactly the obligations placed on them."
Abdo said clubs had a responsibility to ensure their players clearly understand the biosecurity protocols.
"Our biosecurity protocols are the most important part of the competition, they are our licence to continue playing during the pandemic. All clubs and players have a responsibility to ensure they comply with the rules to keep themselves and the community safe,'' he said.
"In this instance we believe the Bulldogs failed to ensure the upgraded protocols were clearly explained to their players. This sanction sends a clear message to every club that you must do everything possible to ensure players understand the protocols.
"The players also have an obligation to seek further information if they are unsure of the upgraded biosecurity advice. Given the breach took place several days after the upgraded protocols had been communicated, we believe a sanction upon the players is also appropriate. In issuing the sanctions, we have taken into account that the players had a degree of confusion about the protocols."
The club and the players have five working days to respond to the breach notices before they are finally determined.
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