Cronulla Sharks captain Paul Gallen fined for Twitter rant at NRL
Paul Gallen during the round 23 NRL match between the Melbourne Storm and the Cronulla Sharks at AAMI Park. (AAP)
New South Wales captain Paul Gallen was fined $50,000 and handed a provisional Kangaroos Test suspension for an explosive tirade against NRL officials on social media.
The National Rugby League said it imposed the heaviest possible code of conduct fine on the Cronulla Sharks skipper and he will also be ineligible for Australian selection in 2015 unless he successfully completes a leadership course.
Gallen has seven days to respond to the breach notice and explain any mitigating factors that might have contributed to his Twitter rant.
The uncompromising forward fired the offensive tweet after news filtered through of chief executive Steve Noyce's enforced departure from the Sharks.
Gallen apologised and deleted the post after a furore on social media.
The Kangaroos Test forward is currently serving a doping ban following an investigation into his NRL club Cronulla's supplement programme.
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