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.”
trilby
Roar Rookie
You don’t think they Start at 8pm because it’s prime time and the want to get good ratings? You don’t think that a lot of merchandise is aimed at kids?
Rob
Guest
No difference in reality. Kids love playing more than they love watching players IMO. The audience at football is 18 plus. If the target audience was wiggle worthy they wouldn’t start the game at 8:00pm and run betting markets in the intro?
soapit
Roar Guru
legalise it and that doesnt happen though mind you
Kurt S
Roar Pro
Maybe we should refer to it as the "Benaud" substance after all those colour options. What would Ritchie have thought about this whole situation?
thomas c
Guest
I don't know. Utilitarianism might provide a pretty forceful critique of prohibition (though people might appeal to social contract theory), but no feasible consequentialism gives you carte blanche on account of living in an imperfect world. I just think that a lot of people who blame prohibition would call you a monster if you bought coffee or chocolate that had cruelty involved - however peripherally - in its production. If I'm morally culpable for doing business with Nestle, then... People have agency. Even if you had a perfectly benign product (say a t-shirt), you might be morally culpable if the company that made it used child labour or if the CEO was using his salary to hunt elephants. In a lot of scenarios, we're to blame for the predictable outcomes of our actions, rather than being able to shrug and say "I didn't create this situation". An addict might have diminished responsibility for choices (and this often informs compassionate drug policies), but if they aren't addicts (and I'm going to guess melbourne's position on this), then a lot of people would argue they made a choice given the world as it is. (To be clear, that wouldn't let the cops/lawmakers/etc off the hook for their actions.)
thomas c
Guest
Several people including Cameron Smith have expressed disappointment at their being caught. It doesn't sound like a strong position. However, I think the NRL doesn't report players for positive recreational drug tests until their second offense. If so, Cam Smith isn't the only one with a mixed message.
trilby
Roar Rookie
There’s a huge difference in your analogy. The Rolling Stones aren’t employed by the record producer - they employ them. Their misdeeds create an image which probably sells more records. A better musical analogy would be the wiggles. Don’t think it would be a good look if any of them got caught with drugs.
Rob
Guest
The rainbow lorikeets were talking about a bonding session the QLD boys may have had before game one. I don’t think the mentors influencing the young players should have been anywhere near the team and certainly not in charge of the social activities personally. You don’t have to look to hard to see the problem.
Rob
Guest
Pharmaceutical drugs kill more people? What violence and death is attributed to alcohol in society. It was a stupid and immature choice by the players involved but seriously if you have Johns boys, Gallen, Thurston and Fittler being idolised in the media can we really expect anything different?
Mr Right
Roar Rookie
They tell me a line of suspicious white powder is about the same price as a packet of cigarettes or a case of crownies??
jameswm
Roar Guru
It’s a widespread problem among those with enough money to buy it. Which includes most NRL players.
jameswm
Roar Guru
I GAF what they got up to. Ok, taking white powder is bad but not the worst. But what if they did worse? So I GAF. They do not have a free rein.
jameswm
Roar Guru
Yep. He only complained about the latter.
jameswm
Roar Guru
“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. Isn't the first poor choice to take illicit drugs in the first place? Or is it ok, as long as no one is watching?
The PTA has disbanded
Guest
So...in other words you are saying that your team isn't good enough to beat the Storm at full strength and you need to rely on suspensions to do so. What a brave man. Hmm........you're really not a smart cookie.
The PTA has disbanded
Guest
A spectacular overreaction. If you applied that principle to the music and acting worlds as well, you would have literally nothing else to enjoy. Imagine if a recording producer told The Rolling Stones they were being banned from recording with them because they couldn't kick the habit?
Big Mig
Roar Rookie
I just wish Souths were playing the Storm this weekend :laughing:
steveng
Roar Rookie
Just to put my two bobs worth as SK I don’t agree with your logic, as we are not talking about cannabis here which is proven to be a conduit to many of these stronger drugs. Yes, we've all been young and stupid and have gone through these fazes of alcohol, tobacco, cannabis and lsd etc etc which was around in my days but and in most cases 95% of users overcome these periods that are mostly due to peer pressure foolish periods that affect mostly these young people’s lives when they consume these drugs, as some don't and keep going on and become addicts and that is who we are and should protect at all costs! We are not just talking about cannabis we are talking about some of the most poisonous concocted drugs on this planet as cocaine (yes it’s an organic derived drug but the powder is mixed with many poisonous chemicals) but and especially ice which is a drug of an entire mixtures of many highly poisonous and dangerous chemicals that cause allot of damage to the human mind and body! SK don't give us this "Placing the “victims” foremost to take the high moral ground whilst offering no real solutions" what allot of nonsense and what a copout! As there are plenty of solutions and people that are out there to help! The only 'cop out' is from people like ‘the victims” and people you that always give us the same old same old excuses, which is not true as the Australian Federal Police are the leaders on “The War on Drugs” and have stifled many many tons of these dangerous drugs from being imported into Australia and being concocted by Bike gangs and criminal around the world!
steveng
Roar Rookie
TB, these guys were that out of it that they probably didn't have a clue and/or know that an outsider was filming them, have a look at Munster and his clownish dancing and even looking into the camera and completely being oblivious to anything or the camera! Just putting things together and if this is has gone on before? Its no wonder that Munster's form has dropped so considerably in the latter part of this year as has Brandon Smith's and the Storm ended up where they did! These are not good signs for anybody if they get on that stuff and/or its even a part of their lives in any shape or form!
The Barry
Roar Guru
Yeah, I see what you’re saying but I hope people don’t jump on that part because in context that’s only a small bit of what he’s saying But TBH it’s the part for me that beggars belief. I’m sure it doesn’t blow anyone’s hair back that there’s NRL players on the devils dandruff… That they’d be so naive to do it in front of someone clearly not part of the inner circle and who reaches for their phone out while someone is allegedly racking up really is stoopid…