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Lee Te Maari - Source: Photosport -
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Canterbury's hardline stance on player behaviour has claimed another victim with little-used backrower Lee Te Maari sacked by the NRL club for repeated breaches of the club's code of conduct.
The final straw for the Bulldogs was a driving offence Te Maari incurred last month, the club only finding out about the incident when it appeared in court.
Te Maari, who played 33 games for the Bulldogs after being recruited from St George Illawarra in 2007, had his contact torn up after facing the club's disciplinary tribunal.
The 24-year-old was last month charged with a range of driving offences, including driving without a license.
Those misdemeanours come on the back of previous fines from the club for off-field incidents.
Last year he was fined and stood down following a punch-up with teammates Jamal Idris and Ben Barba, while Te Maari was also involved in a fight outside a Wollongong nightclub in February 2008.
"All players have a clear understanding of the standards of behaviour required to be a part of this club," Bulldogs chief executive Todd Greenberg said.
"Lee has failed to meet our expectations in this regard and we no longer require his services."
The Bulldogs have gone out of their way to improve the club's
off-field image in recent years with Te Maari joining the likes of
fellow bad boys Willie Mason, Reni Maitua and Arana Taumata to be
shown the door.
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