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Gallen fined $50,000 for offensive tweet

Cronulla and New South Wales Origin captain Paul Gallen has been fined $50,000 for an offensive social media post attacking the NRL.

Gallen posted the comment last Thursday while in Hawaii and it became the subject of an NRL integrity unit investigation.

He fired the tweet after news emerged of Steve Noyce’s enforced exit from the Cronulla Sharks, with Gallen hastily deleting the post soon afterwards.

Gallen will also be ineligible to be selected for the Kangaroos Test side in 2015 unless he successfully completes a leader’s accountability course.

Gallen apologises for offensive tweet
• Paul Gallen blasts NRL over Noyce exit

His eligibility to play will ultimately be determined by an ARLC panel.

He has seven days to respond to the breach notice and explain any mitigating factors that might have contributed to his Twitter brain-snap while holidaying in Hawaii.

NRL chief executive Dave Smith said the NRL would also query the NSW Rugby League on whether Gallen should be stripped of his Blues’ captaincy.

Gallen, who is currently serving a 12-week ASADA-imposed anti-doping suspension along with Sharks team-mates from the 2011 season, is in hot water after deciding to take a shot at NRL officials for their handling of the 18-month saga.

Smith said Gallen’s tweet was offensive and called into question his role in charge of New South Wales.

“Origin is one of our flagship properties and we do not want it to be undermined in any way,” Smith said.

Due to the important leadership positions he holds in the game, the NRL opted to hit Gallen with the maximum possible fine.

The penalty was determined with the support of Cronulla, Sharks chairman Damian Keogh expressing his disappointment in Gallen’s actions.

“The last two years have been a difficult period for the Sharks and our focus is on performing strongly on and off the field in 2015,” Keogh said.

“So it is disappointing to have the club involved in this sort of issue as we prepare for next season.”

Gallen quiet on depression battle

Meanwhile, Gallen responded briefly to reports he is suffering from depression at a boxing promotion on Monday in Sydney.

Gallen said he supports people with depression and encourages them to talk about it, but does not want to go public about his reported battle with that problem.

“It’s an issue that’s hard for me to talk about at the moment,” Gallen said.

“It’s something that I support, the people that come out and talk about it and encourage them to talk about it.”

Gallen said he had tried to ring Smith following his ill-advised tweet.

The Sharks captain evaded rugby league questions on Monday and preferred to focus on his second professional boxing bout against his former Sharks team-mate Anthony Watts at Sydney’s Hordern Pavilion on December 3.

If you or someone you know needs help, you can call Lifeline on 13 11 14, Kids Helpline on 1800 551 800, or MensLine Australia on 1300 789 978.

– ABC/AAP

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