Paul Gallen has had a year he would rather forget.
He copped an Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority suspension for the 2011 supplements program that was in place at the Sharks.
Then he hit the Twitter world last week blowing up about the sacking of Sharks chief executive Steve Noyce.
Gallen later apologised for the offensive remarks on Twitter. He posted: : Steve Noice [sic] actually cared about players from cronulla's feelings. Couldn't say that about any other [expletive deleted] from Nrl.
The Sharks board made the decision to make Steve Noyce redundant and look to a new direction and search for a group chief executive to run their football and leagues club and residential and business empire. It was not the NRL's call.
Gallen tried to contact NRL boss David Smith and apologise.
The NRL issued Gallen with a $50,000 fine and have made him ineligible to play in the Anzac Test.
The Sharks management have endorsed the NRL's punishment.
Gallen is appealing and a date will be set to hear his grievances.
A lesser fine is appropriate — not $50,000.
Controversial rugby union player Kurtley Beale was fined $45,000 by the Australian Rugby Union.
There is even talk that Gallen's spot as captain for NSW is in jeopardy in 2015. Gallen knows he did the wrong thing on social media. Sometimes you have to bite your tongue.
Like all of us who have said emotive things in life, we learn from it.
In my eyes, the fine is harsh and the NRL has no right to impose a stance interfering with Gallen's potential selection for Australia and NSW in 2015.
Test selection is a matter for the ARL, state selection for the NSW Rugby League.
Want a bet?
Although the final field is not declared until this Saturday the race that stops a nation, the Melbourne Cup is on Tuesday at 3pm at Flemington.
Whether or not you follow horse racing, the annual events captures the imagination and it's down tools just before 3pm when the race is set to start.
Protectionist and Who Shot the Barman are two horses I expect to run well and be in the finish.
At this time of year there a raft of opinions on finding the Melbourne Cup winner. Protectionist and Who Shot The Barman have met qualifying conditions for the Melbourne Cup and barring trackwork injury or sickness.
Is Paul Gallen's punishment too harsh or deserved?