- Video
-
Club Roar
Captured a great grassroots sporting moment? We want to see it!Content Collections
The Roar Community
- Join
- Login
Melbourne Storm legend Cameron Smith has given former teammates Cameron Munster and Brandon Smith a whack for their part in the white powder scandal, suggesting they had tarnished the club’s legacy.
Smith, who retired with a record 430 NRL games behind him, was scathing of the behaviour of Storm trio Munster, Smith and Chris Lewis on SEN radio on Thursday.
“I’d like to think they’re smarter than the way they’ve acted,” Smith said.
“To allow outsiders into a room and they’ve got phones out filming … it’s mind-boggling to see these guys make these poor choices.
“It’s taken a long time for people to build the club and have it held in such high regard across all sports and you’ve got guys wanting to make dumb choices and they can bring it all down in an instant.
“That’s what annoys me. I am extremely disappointed with what I’ve seen and was told had happened post that preliminary final.
“I haven’t been a part of the club this year, I wasn’t playing there, but they are former teammates of mine and I am very proud of what myself, Billy Slater, Cooper Cronk, Ryan Hoffman, Dallas Johnson and many other players created.
“Even before us guys like Matt Geyer and Robbie Kearns … all these great players, what they sacrificed and what they put into the organisation to make it what it is.
“In the first few years, very few people wanted the Melbourne Storm in the competition, they didn’t want us to survive, but all those players and staff members who moved away to be in Melbourne, they forged on and persevered and they built the club into what is considered one of the greatest sporting organisations in this country.
“I am being completely honest. It is extremely, extremely disappointing.”
Munster, Smith and Lewis are facng fines of up to $40,000 and suspensions of between two to four games after being caught on video partying after the preliminary final with an unconfirmed white powder.
Smith also criticised Melbourne Storm officials for their handling of the matter at the Dally M Awards, hours after the news broke.
He compared the Storm’s reaction to how the Warriors ordered Reece Walsh to apologise for his actions after confessing to cocaine use and possession.
“I don’t think it’s a widespread problem at the Storm, I hope it’s not, I really hope it’s not,” Smith said.
“I understand in society there are issues out there with drugs and young people but at the end of the day these guys are in a very different position to most other young people in the normal world.
“Everyone, particularly league fans, they appreciated how quickly the Warriors addressed their situation.
“If Melbourne had their time again, they may not agree with this, but they should have got on the front foot quicker and addressed it.
“I only learnt about it (the Storm white powder allegations) as I walked into the Dally M ceremony in Brisbane (on Monday night).
“That’s when it unfolded, and it looked awkward.
“I could sense how awkward Cameron Munster and Brandon Smith felt sitting there at those tables. They were very quiet, very unlike themselves where they are usually upbeat and lively characters.
“Was it left to Craig Bellamy (coach) to address the media after he received the coach of the year award?
“A club official should have got up in front of the media straight up, knocked it on the head and got it out of the way.”
Reckon you can pick the winning team? Build your own dream team with Draftstars daily fantasy and compete on any match. For great odds on the NRL head on over to PlayUp. Imagine what you could be buying instead. Set a deposit limit.