KNIGHTS chief executive Phil Gardner has issued a sobering warning for the club's players as they prepare for their end-of-season Mad Monday festivities.
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"If anyone plays up on Mad Monday, and brings the game into disrepute, their contracts will be torn up," Gardner told the Newcastle Herald.
"We've told the players that.
"I'll be at the Penrith game on Sunday, and we'll be reiterating that message.
"If they play up and bring the game into disrepute, they can expect to no longer be playing rugby league."
NRL chief executive Todd Greenberg has warned all clubs in the lead-up to the final round of the regular season that there will be a "zero-tolerance" approach to player misbehaviour.
The code was embarrassed 12 months ago when Canterbury players were photographed dancing naked at a hotel in Sydney's The Rocks district.
Two Bulldogs, Adam Elliott and Asipeli Fine, were charged with wilful and obscene exposure, but escaped criminal convictions after receiving two-year good behaviour bonds.
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A third player, Zac Woolford, who has played in Newcastle's NSW Cup side this season, received an infringement notice from police for "offensive conduct".
All three were fined, while the NRL imposed a $250,000 sanction on the Canterbury club, half of which was suspended.
Newcastle have had their own alcohol-related incidents in the past year that have resulted in two players, Tautau Moga and Jacob Saifiti, making court appearances. Moga, Saifiti and teammate Mason Lino have all been fined for code-of-conduct breaches.
It is understood Knights management have organised a private venue and responsible supervision for the end-of-season drink.
"We've hired a mine, and we're taking them down a pit, and there will be barbed wire at the top," Gardner joked.
"No cameras or phones will be allowed within 10 miles of the pit."
On a more serious note, Gardner said the club would be "doing everything we possibly can" to ensure players did not attract unwanted headlines.
"They're entitled to enjoy each other's company in a civilised format, and we'll do everything we can do to ensure our players do not bring the club into disrepute," he said.
"And we trust our players to be sensible and do the right thing.
"If you're a Knights player, you've got a responsibility.
"They do get it. But if the levels of intoxication do become an issue, we'll have the right people around them to manage all that.
"We'll do everything we can to risk manage, keep our fingers crossed, and go from there."
Greenberg said last week that all clubs had been reminded recently of the consequences if players stepped out of line.
"I made it crystal clear to chief executives when we met in August that we expect the highest standard of behaviour," Greenberg said.
"Every club and player knows they have a responsibility to ensure the conduct of their club, themselves and their teammates meets community expectations.
"There is no grey area here. I spelled out to every club in the room the responsibilities they have.
"We will take a zero-tolerance approach to bad behaviour ... Penalties for poor off-field behaviour will be harsher than ever before."
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