http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/league-news/monaghan-dont-take-my-livelihood-away-20101106-17i58.html
JOEL MONAGHAN has broken his silence on that ''moment of madness'', pleading with league officials not to end his career.
Monaghan created headlines worldwide after a photograph of him simulating a sex act with a dog was published on the internet.
The Canberra, NSW and Australian centre unreservedly apologised for a prank which could spell the end of a promising career.
''I don't want to lose my livelihood over a stupid prank that will stay with me for the rest of my life,'' Monaghan told The Sun-Herald. ''I accept total responsibility for what happened. It was a moment of madness and while it was totally out of character, I have to cop the consequences.
''I'm disappointed that the photo was distributed but I should never have put myself in that situation.
''It's something I will have to live with for the rest of my life. I just want to take this opportunity to unreservedly again apologise to the club, the fans, the game and community.''
The Raiders are likely to terminate Monaghan's contract at a board meeting tomorrow after a backlash from sponsors. The NRL is considering deregistering the 28-year-old but will allow the club to deal with the matter in the first instance.
''I don't want to go into the details but it was a dumb thing that was done and the incident was a set-up, nothing actually happened as some have suggested,'' Monaghan said.
''I don't want to be remembered just for this. I have proudly represented my home town of Canberra, and then NSW and Australia. I understand the embarrassment this has caused the club and the game but I don't want it to end like this.
''If I'm given an opportunity to continue my career, I'll do everything in my power to redeem myself.
''I really don't believe that this is all I should be remembered for; I am just a normal everyday person who has put himself in a dumb position and because of the social media medium, my family and I have to pay a huge personal price.''
Monaghan described confronting his family about the incident as ''the hardest thing I've ever had to do''.
''Those conversations will remain private, but it's fair to say we're all doing it tough at the moment,'' he said. ''I'm just so sorry that I've put them through this because they don't deserve it.''
Monaghan has been working closely with life coach Charlie Hunter, the woman who helped Todd Carney turn his life around following a series of off-field misdemeanours. The first step in the rehabilitation process following the ''mad Monday'' prank is a total ban on alcohol.
''I'm still coming to grips with what has happened,'' Monaghan said. ''But I just want to say that I will never let myself or the fans down like this ever again.
''I'd love the opportunity to play again but respect that the situation is out of my hands at the moment.
''I'm in the process of getting counselling at the moment: the first step I took was the decision a short time ago to stop drinking and we're talking about the steps I'll need to take to put this behind me.
''I'm deeply embarrassed and want to do whatever is required to try to make it right.
''I am eternally grateful for the support I have received from many senior figures in the game who got in touch with me and have helped me through the last few days with advice and just giving support.'' Hunter hoped the game of rugby league would give Monaghan the opportunity to redeem himself.
''The hardest part for any of the guys to deal with in this situation is the public perception, which is often dreadfully misrepresented,'' she said.
''It's not to say that it's not mendable, you only have to look at Todd [Carney] now.
''But they are the internal demons that you need to work with.''
Profile of a joker
Name Joel Monaghan
Born April 22, 1982
Height 190cm
Weight 102kg
Position Centre/winger
NRL debut Raiders v Panthers, Round 10, 2001, Penrith Football Stadium
Test debut 2008 World Cup against New Zealand, October 26, 2008, Sydney Football Stadium
NRL matches 173
Tries 92
Tests 5
Origins 2 for NSW
Its pretty unaustralian for him not to get one over a poor joke in my opinion
He didnt endanger lives,besides that of his own member
Todd Carney endangered lives with drink driving
as did Tony Williams and countless others
Nate Miles **** in a hallway
Watmough hit a sponsor after saying dispicable things to his daughter
Don Mackinnon pissed ON THE FIELD!!!
Gallen pissed in public,as did others
Monaghan wasnt even in public and him and to a greater extent his brother
have done more for the public than most players would even dream of doing
but because they arent big names,they dont get the mentions that real stars
do
For gods sake punish him,but dont finish him
Fine the moron,do something,just not that
Anyone not get the point?
His "evil" is more like the diet coke of evil
But you watch Gallop and his posse with the knee jerk reactions
Probably a year suspension,at 28 ends his career
Or a life ban from Gallop upheld by the RLIF
JOEL MONAGHAN has broken his silence on that ''moment of madness'', pleading with league officials not to end his career.
Monaghan created headlines worldwide after a photograph of him simulating a sex act with a dog was published on the internet.
The Canberra, NSW and Australian centre unreservedly apologised for a prank which could spell the end of a promising career.
''I don't want to lose my livelihood over a stupid prank that will stay with me for the rest of my life,'' Monaghan told The Sun-Herald. ''I accept total responsibility for what happened. It was a moment of madness and while it was totally out of character, I have to cop the consequences.
''I'm disappointed that the photo was distributed but I should never have put myself in that situation.
''It's something I will have to live with for the rest of my life. I just want to take this opportunity to unreservedly again apologise to the club, the fans, the game and community.''
The Raiders are likely to terminate Monaghan's contract at a board meeting tomorrow after a backlash from sponsors. The NRL is considering deregistering the 28-year-old but will allow the club to deal with the matter in the first instance.
''I don't want to go into the details but it was a dumb thing that was done and the incident was a set-up, nothing actually happened as some have suggested,'' Monaghan said.
''I don't want to be remembered just for this. I have proudly represented my home town of Canberra, and then NSW and Australia. I understand the embarrassment this has caused the club and the game but I don't want it to end like this.
''If I'm given an opportunity to continue my career, I'll do everything in my power to redeem myself.
''I really don't believe that this is all I should be remembered for; I am just a normal everyday person who has put himself in a dumb position and because of the social media medium, my family and I have to pay a huge personal price.''
Monaghan described confronting his family about the incident as ''the hardest thing I've ever had to do''.
''Those conversations will remain private, but it's fair to say we're all doing it tough at the moment,'' he said. ''I'm just so sorry that I've put them through this because they don't deserve it.''
Monaghan has been working closely with life coach Charlie Hunter, the woman who helped Todd Carney turn his life around following a series of off-field misdemeanours. The first step in the rehabilitation process following the ''mad Monday'' prank is a total ban on alcohol.
''I'm still coming to grips with what has happened,'' Monaghan said. ''But I just want to say that I will never let myself or the fans down like this ever again.
''I'd love the opportunity to play again but respect that the situation is out of my hands at the moment.
''I'm in the process of getting counselling at the moment: the first step I took was the decision a short time ago to stop drinking and we're talking about the steps I'll need to take to put this behind me.
''I'm deeply embarrassed and want to do whatever is required to try to make it right.
''I am eternally grateful for the support I have received from many senior figures in the game who got in touch with me and have helped me through the last few days with advice and just giving support.'' Hunter hoped the game of rugby league would give Monaghan the opportunity to redeem himself.
''The hardest part for any of the guys to deal with in this situation is the public perception, which is often dreadfully misrepresented,'' she said.
''It's not to say that it's not mendable, you only have to look at Todd [Carney] now.
''But they are the internal demons that you need to work with.''
Profile of a joker
Name Joel Monaghan
Born April 22, 1982
Height 190cm
Weight 102kg
Position Centre/winger
NRL debut Raiders v Panthers, Round 10, 2001, Penrith Football Stadium
Test debut 2008 World Cup against New Zealand, October 26, 2008, Sydney Football Stadium
NRL matches 173
Tries 92
Tests 5
Origins 2 for NSW
Its pretty unaustralian for him not to get one over a poor joke in my opinion
He didnt endanger lives,besides that of his own member
Todd Carney endangered lives with drink driving
as did Tony Williams and countless others
Nate Miles **** in a hallway
Watmough hit a sponsor after saying dispicable things to his daughter
Don Mackinnon pissed ON THE FIELD!!!
Gallen pissed in public,as did others
Monaghan wasnt even in public and him and to a greater extent his brother
have done more for the public than most players would even dream of doing
but because they arent big names,they dont get the mentions that real stars
do
For gods sake punish him,but dont finish him
Fine the moron,do something,just not that
Anyone not get the point?
His "evil" is more like the diet coke of evil
But you watch Gallop and his posse with the knee jerk reactions
Probably a year suspension,at 28 ends his career
Or a life ban from Gallop upheld by the RLIF
