DISGRACED Canberra centre Joel Monaghan has expressed remorse and disgust after a photograph of him simulating a sex act with a dog was published on the internet.

Monaghan's NRL career was in tatters this evening after the former Test centre admitted to being the man at the centre of an alcohol fuelled prank which went horribly wrong at the Raiders' Mad Monday end of season drinks last month.

The photograph had done the email rounds before being published on social networking site Twitter on Wednesday.

"Joel can't blame anyone but himself for an act of stupidity that will haunt him for the rest of his life," Monaghan's manager Jim Banaghan said in a statement.

"Joel wants to make it clear that he was the one playing a prank on an absent teammate by simulating the act.

"There are no words of explanation that can be offered because none can be appropriate.

"Joel has to now face his family as well as fans and supporters with that shame and has already undergone counselling to help him cope with the consequences of what has happened.

"It was a moment of abject stupidity brought about by too much drink and a complete lack of any thought process.

"The fact that someone has sought to compound the situation further by the use of social media only adds to the trauma, but Joel accepts that it is his actions alone that are at fault.

"He apologises unreservedly for the outrage that people feel at the moment and blames nobody but himself.

"He will meet the club over the issue and accepts that there must be ramifications but the fact is he is not in a fit emotional state to have those discussions at the moment.

"Joel is a genuinely good person who is simply shattered by a moment of sheer madness."

Oh MG!

too much gross

Inappropriate content for NA (at least the dog is naked, I suppose)

There are lots more and more graphic but not public yet

This is a very interesting situation indeed.

When one publishes material such as the photograph above one must be extremely careful. The laws pertaining to privacy in this country are very specific and must be considered.

One must consider where the photograph was taken. The answer to that is in a private home. ie. a place not open to the public. Were the photographs intended for public viewing ? The answer to that is obviously no.

If the person who has had their right to privacy violated, in this instance Mr. Monaghan, have every right to pursue those who have violated such rights in a court of law.

This may include the person who took the photographs, the person who leaked the photographs into the public domain as well as any publication, web site etc. who reproduces such photographs.

It would be wise Naked Australians to carefully consider your position. Is reproducing such material really worth the risk of being involved in lengthy and costly litigation ?  

Thanks Legal Eagle for caring. There's no issue with the photo though. This is of news interest only and nothing more.

Let's not debate it if you disagree. We're tired.

Did'nt realise the site was a news outlet. If you consider that photo to be in any way news worthy you are one sick boy. I somehow mistakenly was under the impression it was an outlet for beautiful naked photography that was family friendly. Silly me.

Can't hardly wait for your next bulletin, thats when you are rested and not so tired of course.

Making his first public statement since the scandal broke, Monaghan struggled to compose himself as he read from a prepared statement at Canberra Raiders headquarters.

The former Australia winger confirmed  he had requested a release from the club, which had been granted by the Raiders.

He said he will now seek to play in the English Super League.

Monaghan described the photo, which involved him in a compromising position with a dog, as a "stupid prank".

Monaghan had to pause several times during the emotional speech and eventually had to ask his manager Jim Banaghan to finish reading his statement.

"I don't want to damage this great club any further," Monaghan said as he choked back tears.

"Alcohol is no excuse ... this is solely my responsibility.

"There are no hard feelings or grudges towards anyone else.

"They're my actions and I'm totally responsible.

"I'll have to handle the jokes and taunts which is understandable, but the players shouldn't have to put up with pressure that my ongoing presence will bring."

Monaghan was flanked by Raiders co-captains Terry Campese and Alan Tongue as he delivered the expected news, the former NSW and Test flyer thanking his teammates for their support after they called for him to be retained.

Monaghan said he didn't want to subject the club and his teammates to the ridicule that will follow for a prank that "won't be forgotten any time soon."

Club CEO Don Furner also confirmed the club was unaware who took the photo, casting doubt over claims that it was a fellow player.

"I can assure everybody here that we don't know who took the photo, if it was one of our players," Furner said.

"There's no way in the world that they would want this to happen to Joel, there's no way in the world that one of our players would have uploaded this onto a website and wanted this to happen to Joel."

Furner said he hoped Monaghan would one day return to play at the club.

"Joel is welcome back at this club and I hope he does come back one day," Furner said.

"I hope he is welcome back in Canberra because he's done a lot of good in this city.

"He's had to pay a very high price for a party prank at somebody's house."

NRL CEO, David Gallop, described the events leading to Monaghan's dismissal as sad for all concerned.

"Joel has today paid a heavy price in standing down from the Raiders and I think people are entitled to acknowledge both his contrition and the way he has handled things over the last couple of days," Mr Gallop said.

"It is a poignant reminder though that people need to think before they act, even when it is seemingly done in jest.

"In light of the decisions Joel has taken there does not appear to be a need for further action from the NRL.

"It is too early to start talking about when Joel could return to the NRL competition, that is something we would address at a later time."