Melbourne NRL star Cameron Munster will enter an alcohol treatment facility following an NRL sanction after a post-season party video emerged.
A contrite Cameron Munster hopes to win his “battle” with alcohol by entering a treatment facility to help rebuild his future with NRL club Melbourne.
The Storm warned on Tuesday that the star playmaker was on his last chance after post-season video emerged of him partying with a white powder.
Munster, as well as Storm teammates Brandon Smith and Chris Lewis, were sanctioned by the NRL for their antics following their finals exit.
Issued with NRL breach notices on Tuesday alleging they brought the game into disrepute, the trio will miss the 2022 season opener and face various fines, with Munster hardest hit with a $30,000 penalty.
Warriors teenager Reece Walsh faces a two-game ban and a $5000 fine after his Gold Coast arrest which has led to a drug investigation.
Accepting the sanctions, the Melbourne players read statements to the media on Tuesday with Munster admitting he had had a “difficult relationship” with alcohol.
“I thought I’d dealt with this issue but clearly I still have some hurdles to overcome,” said Munster, who is due to become a father in December.
“I made the decision in consultation with the club doctor to seek some help with this battle.
“Starting tomorrow, I’ll be attending a treatment facility for the next four weeks.
“I know I’ve let a lot of people down … hopefully you’ll see by my actions that I’m dedicated to change.”
Storm boss Justin Rodski said his players hadn’t admitted taking any drugs and the NRL was unable to test them for illicit substances in the off-season.
“The findings from the NRL integrity unit haven’t produced any evidence to suggest what was in the video,” Rodski said.
“Through excessive consumption of alcohol and intoxication the players have limited memory of what did or didn’t take place in that hotel room.”
He defended the lightweight one-game bans and said the “totality of sanctions and penalties handed down across the NRL and the club were significant and serious”.
Melbourne have also put Munster on a 12-month booze ban, fined him $100,000 fully suspended and axed him from the leadership group.
Rodski said if the representative five-eighth breached the alcohol ban he would cop the hefty fine and face the Storm’s board which would decide his fate.
Asked if the 27-year-old was on his last chance after previous disciplinary issues Rodski replied: “I think you could take from this that he is, yes.”
The Storm chief executive said it was “premature” to discuss letting Munster walk at the end of 2022 to join the expansion club in Brisbane.
New Zealand international Smith revealed his family had been targeted on social media platforms since the video.
“I know I have let a lot of people down, especially my family,” Smith said.
“I’m sorry for all the criticism you guys have received over social media platforms, which is probably the most painful and heartbreaking thing I’ve had to deal with.”
NRL boss Andrew Abdo said the four players, who would also undergo education and training, had let the rugby league community down.
BillV
Guest
He stopped slipping over in the shower which is always a good thing. Still plays on too many flat tracks is his biggest issue.
Tim Carter
Roar Pro
I'm not saying it's good logic.
BillV
Guest
There’s logic for you. Doesn’t have a drug problem because he only uses drugs when he’s drunk. How often that be ?
BillV
Guest
Common thought is you clean yourself up and all will be sweet. Not as simple as that. Alcohol and cocaine are drugs of addiction. Without the off-field highs that these players depended on and craved, it can easily go pear-shaped for them and have detrimental effects. Good luck on their recoveries, because if they aren’t successful, well.. , Ben Cousins may be the next comparison.
mushi
Roar Guru
Implausible deniability
The Barry
Roar Guru
Hahaha… “The findings from the NRL integrity unit haven’t produced any evidence to suggest what was in the video,” 99% of people who’ve seen the video know exactly what it is…!!! NRL integrity unit is one of the biggest misnomers I’ve ever heard Good luck to Munster but this is an absolute charade. If the NRL decides they don’t want to punish this sort of stuff, fine. But going through this “well no one can prove what sort of white powder was in the little plastic bags that they were cutting into lines with a credit card on a mirror while hammered” sham is laughable It’s also interesting how the media laughed along with Smith and Munster off their heads for weeks after last years grand final and how quickly they’ve turned on them this year for doing pretty much the same thing…
The Barry
Roar Guru
As long as he doesn’t know what it is, he’s fine…
Adam
Roar Guru
Oh yeah you'd have to think someone remembers. Reckon you're right about the fairy tales, some random guy in the room was at least sober enough to get out the quill and paper to write something dramatic
Cath Brown
Guest
Stupid is as stupid does
Paul
Roar Guru
I agree with your comments about the legal and finance sectors, but he and his doctors are best placed to know what Munster needs to do to manage his alcohol intake. You're probably right, 4 weeks in rehab might well be a PR exercise but it's also akin to a month drying out and hopefully they teach him coping skills, given he's off the sauce for 11 more months when he gets out.
Paul
Roar Guru
fair call, but 3 blokes in a room and not one of them can remember what the white powder was on the table? I wonder if this is how fairy tales started centuries ago?
Worlds Biggest
Guest
The CEO has handled this poorly. Came across very amateurish. Pearce got 10 weeks and 100k fine which was way over the top. These guys get hit with a feather duster.
The PTA has disbanded
Guest
He doesn't need rehab. This is silly. He doesn't have a problem with booze or drugs. He's a cadbury boy is all. But he's not a danger to himself, friends or family....nor is he in anyway suffering on the pitch. If he wasn't a rugby league player no one would care. This is just public appeasement. If he is the threshold for rehab then the entire legal and finance sectors in Sydney and Melbourne would need to check in for a month too. His coke habit is absolutely junior grade compared to some of them.
Big Daddy
Roar Rookie
I wonder if it will be the same overseas rehab clinic that previous players have attended.
souvalis
Roar Rookie
'their own words' is possibly Andrew's key point.
Adam
Roar Guru
In defence of their defence. They probably were absolutely blotto
Adam
Roar Guru
Thankfully for Munster no one could be bothered challenging him for a race. Not exactly Usain Bolt
Paul
Roar Guru
I'd be confident they had some high priced help to come up with that defence.
Tom G
Roar Rookie
Interesting defence
Paul
Roar Guru
"“Through excessive consumption of alcohol and intoxication the players have limited memory of what did or didn’t take place in that hotel room.” I'll bet!