Melbourne stars Cameron Munster and Brandon Smith will miss the 2022 season opener and face fines of up to $30,000 in penalties imposed by the NRL for their post-season antics.
The Storm duo, as well as teammate Chris Lewis, were issued with breach notices by the NRL on Tuesday morning alleging they brought the game into disrepute.
Warriors youngster Reece Walsh was also issued a breach notice for failing to comply with the game’s code of conduct, and faces a two-game ban and a $5,000 fine.
With the NRL taking into account the player salaries, Munster was hardest hit, facing a $30,000 fine as well as his one-match suspension while Smith was fined $15,000 and Lewis $4,000.
The Storm trio, as well as Walsh, are also required to complete education and training as directed by the NRL.
The players each have five business days to respond to their breach notice.
NRL boss Andrew Abdo said the players had let the rugby league community down.
“I understand that players have endured a long season under strict protocols,” he said in a statement.
“However, there is no excuse for the behaviour we have seen over the past week. The players have let themselves, their clubs and the rugby league community down.
“These sanctions are designed to include an element of rehabilitation and development as well as having consequences for the individual and team.”
Two undated videos surfaced online after the Storm’s NRL finals exit.
The initial vision appeared to show Munster, Smith and several other people in a room with a white substance on a table while a second video showed Munster dancing on the same table.
Celebrating the end of his debut NRL season, Walsh was arrested on the Gold Coast and is under investigation for drug offences.
The 19-year-old was asked by police to move on from the nightclub strip but he returned and was arrested.
The Warriors had already announced he would undergo club-instigated drug and alcohol counselling.
The Storm players will front the media and club sponsors later on Tuesday with the club yet to hand down its own sanctions.
FULL NRL STATEMENT
REECE WALSH (NEW ZEALAND WARRIORS)
The National Rugby League has issued New Zealand Warriors Player Reece Walsh with a Breach Notice for failing to comply with the game’s Code of Conduct and bringing the game into disrepute.
The Notice proposes Walsh is fined $5000, suspended for 2 matches and must complete education and training as directed by the NRL.
The particulars of the Breach Notice are that Walsh was charged with contravening a police direction and possessing a dangerous drug on the Gold Coast on 25 September 2021.
Walsh has five business days to respond to the Breach Notice.
CAMERON MUNSTER, BRANDON SMITH & CHRIS LEWIS (MELBOURNE STORM)
The NRL has issued Melbourne Storm Players Cameron Munster, Brandon Smith and Chris Lewis with Breach Notices alleging they brought the game into disrepute.
The Breach Notices propose Munster is fined $30,000 and suspended for 1 match, Smith is fined $15,000 and suspended for 1 match, Lewis is fined $4000 and suspended for 1 match and all three are required to complete education and training as directed by the NRL.
The fines proposed take into account the varying salaries of each individual.
The particulars of the Breach Notices are that the players featured in videos, which emerged publicly on 27 and 28 September 2021, which depicted the players acting in a manner which brought the game into disrepute.
The players each have five business days to respond to their Breach Notice.
Succhi
Roar Rookie
Wasn’t that Munsters defence on the field?
Don
Roar Rookie
OK Just so I understand. Because Mitchell Pearce’s punishment was grossly unfair and excessive, and was done under a previous (dud) NRL management, we want to inflict more excessive punishment on some transgressions today, because they are disproportionate to the erroneous punishments put on someone prior? Also, Pearce copped a $100K fine and $50K of it was suspended. And it wasn’t only the dog video incident (which whilst distasteful, was blown out of proportion) it was $100K and 8 weeks because the video included him trying to kiss a woman who had said no several times, this 2 years after his grabbing a girl in a nightclub incident, and then he wet himself on the couch.
Tony
Roar Guru
Something like that
Succhi
Roar Rookie
Did I read they are saying they were too drunk to know what they were doing?
Albo
Roar Rookie
And another thing ! The Storm need to get better script writers, as those guys had awful trouble reading their statements to the media . :silly:
Albo
Roar Rookie
But you would have to fine Munster more just for that terrible Riverdance he displayed to the world ? That certainly brought the game into disrepute ! :silly:
Albo
Roar Rookie
Yep ! I think his form has been ordinary this year. He has suffered not having Cam Smith's direction. Jerome Hughes has been the Storm's key half and game manager this year. Its no surprise that Nathan Cleary again overshadowed Munster in Origin and the Prelim Final this year.
Nat
Roar Guru
$760K is probably about right but TPAs and SOO payments are not associated to the club (maybe an arguement for SOO payments as they have to account for it in their cap). If the TPS decided to pull their sponsorship, fair enough, it would be justified but the NRL cannot make that call. My calcs are approx 5% of wages but it still doesn't answer why it is % based not a fixed fine when nothing in NRL history follows this same % based fine system for the same offence. That's why I would challenge it and I'm surprised the RLPA hasn't had a word on his behalf. I'm not a union man personally but that's why they are paid. They let this slide and it becomes the precedent for all players and the NRL can pick and choose how they apply it. I am starting to think there is far more going on behind the scenes with Munster and the Storm. He might already be on 2.5 strikes for reasons we may not be aware of.
mushi
Roar Guru
Quick calc if Smith’s 2021 contract was for say 450k (which is high for a back up he was when he signed) That would put the less than 30 game ~30 year old Lewis on 120k which seems about right for a bloke who debuted closer to the King Lewis’ retirement age That would then see Munster’s storm contract at about 760k for one of the best halves in the game if you account for the SOO payments and likely share of Melbourne’s very high disclosed TPAs. If anything it looks like Munster got off light on a % basis
Monorchid
Roar Rookie
You're right of course Greg. But what they did only raised the "bringing into disrepute" grading because of the video, not because of what they did, or didn't do. Anyway, I know I'm only nitpicking, but I have very little respect for the way sporting bodies deal with drug issues. And that's my real beef.
Big Daddy
Roar Rookie
I plead guilty .
mushi
Roar Guru
Are but you said earlier that it was illegal and having differing fines based on income would be over turned immediately. The consistency with the storm boys are you honestly saying aside you can't see world where the earnings the NRL sees of Munster this year is double that of Smith's? Given Smith's 2021 contract was when he was a bench player and Munster likely has significant TPA's given Melbourne's disclosed levels and another 100k from origin I'd say it's been generously compared. The Walsh comparison is tougher for us to opine as he got an additional weeks suspension so the cost will depend on the payment structure in his contract. Also was he on his this year salary or the deal that was supposed to start next year.
Tom G
Roar Rookie
Why Munster copped the bigger fine? My money is on his podium dancing antics… people can live down a drug related scandal, go go boy videos last forever!!
Nat
Roar Guru
No, that's company policy that you signed up for. Further you're talking % of bonuses not your agreed salary. I get the NRL are an employer not the law but it still needs precedent or agreed policy. This isn't even a standard % taken, it's a random number and there is no consistency between the 3 storm boys or Walsh. Munster isn't earning 6x what he is and the police got him. Far worse IMO. If you would accept that, fair enough but I wouldn't.
Tom G
Roar Rookie
The NRL making things up on the run? That sounds so ‘business as usual’
Tom G
Roar Rookie
if the Storm were planning on another dynasty based upon their new crop of superstars with Cam Munster at the centre of that group i think they may have their work cut out. He shows little discipline on field and evidently less off it. He’s undoubtedly a great player but there’s nothing going on between his ears.
jimmmy
Roar Rookie
$100,000 dollar SUSPENDED fine. Soft as a feather pillow.
Don
Roar Rookie
I like the Derek Jeter story Geoff. He was 20 years playing in MLB and considered a “clean skin” throughout his career. Turns out that he’s had a policy wherever he’s lived or stayed that no one in his house or hotel room has a phone or camera. Everyone has to leave their phone in a basket at the door. He’s retired and still doesn’t allow people to have phones on them in his house.
scrum
Roar Rookie
Well I agree with your last sentence. A brief look at the Matty John’s Show shows the culture associated with the NRL.
Derek Murray
Roar Rookie
How do they manage it? Tens, maybe hundreds of thousands of Australians participate in the nose candy on a regular basis and it seems only influencers and sportsmen are stupid enough to have it filmed and posted on social media