Melbourne Storm coach Craig Bellamy has broken his silence over the club’s white-powder saga, saying his players were well aware of their actions.
Bellamy, the reigning Dally M coach of the year, says he only found out about the video of his players partying with white powder half an hour before the NRL awards.
Storm trio Cameron Munster, Brandon Smith and Chris Lewis were sanctioned by the NRL for their actions which followed the team’s finals exit at the hands of Penrith.
Issued with NRL breach notices this week for bringing the game into disrepute, Bellamy’s players will miss the 2022 season-opener and face various fines, with Munster hardest hit with a $30,000 penalty.
Speaking on Afternoon’s with 4BC, Bellamy said it’s been “very disappointing for the club and the game” and that his players were well aware they’d done the wrong thing.
“When I was their age, we used to go out and have six, eight, 10 schooners,” he said.
“But the big difference is having half a dozen schooners isn’t illegal. And that’s what disappoints me so much in that, those guys earn a good living, they’re doing what they love in life and what they did was illegal.
“And, they were very, very well aware of that.
“But like I say, they still ventured there … and that’s done now but we’ve got to make sure we give them the help and the guidance they need not to do it again. And hopefully that’ll be the case.”
(Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)
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.”
>> WATCH: Storm CEO and journalist clash over white powder scandal punishments
He also defended the one-game bans and said the “totality of sanctions and penalties handed down across the NRL and the club were significant and serious”.
The club has put Munster on a 12-month booze ban, fined him $100,000 which is suspended and axed him from the leadership group.
Munster has also entered an alcohol treatment facility for the next four weeks after admitting he has a “difficult relationship” with booze.
matth
Roar Guru
Yes, the message for Reece Walsh is deny, deny and then your ban will be reduced.
Stormy
Roar Rookie
Meant to be rubbing - as in causing grief.
Stormy
Roar Rookie
No, I don't Panther 3; I wondered about that, too. Did notice what appeared to be a mark, or scrape, down the side of his face while watching. Maybe, his helmet was running. Does anyone know the answer?
Panthers3
Roar Rookie
serious question : do you know why Jerome Hughes did not wear his headgear in that final game like he's always done every game in the past ??
Stormy
Roar Rookie
They may play Meaney on the wing. He's fast & can catch the high balls - couldn't be any worse than Jennings, I think.
andrew
Roar Rookie
No worries Tony, I'll leave you in suspense.
Tony
Roar Guru
:shocked:
andrew
Roar Rookie
Hey Tony it's :laughing:
Tony
Roar Guru
Thanks mate - don't tell me the score please, I'll watch it on replay a little later. :stoked:
andrew
Roar Rookie
Yes Rellum, looks like a great day, 10-6 at half time, anyone's game.
Rellum
Roar Guru
Wynnum need to get more ball and they win. Big crowd, great game
andrew
Roar Rookie
Don't know if you've got the Instrust Super GF on t.v. in NSW, but it's not a bad game.
Tony
Roar Guru
Probably worse Andrew, particularly with no cameras there
andrew
Roar Rookie
Wonder if it was anything like his blow ups in the coaches box.
Jacko
Roar Rookie
Probably Paul Gallen.
Paul
Guest
They gain Xavier Coates , to replace JAC. So will be fine there. Who replaces George Jennings? He was a weakness in the side, especially in the semi- final. Didn’t see any other fantastic wingers there during the last season.
RLFan
Roar Rookie
I can't help wondering what the punishment would have been if it were Tigers or Bulldogs players. I remember the NRL wanting to stand Napa down for 8 weeks, his first year at the Dogs, for a video he had done five years before when playing for the Roosters. Different rules for the top teams, the refereeing this year was proof of that.
Stormy
Roar Rookie
Never seems to have the best interests, of the Club, foremost in his mind. To me, it's always me, me, me - superstar; not.
Stormy
Roar Rookie
It's still well & truely alive, believe me. The fact that their coach has spoken out &, banned or not, no player/s have supported them publicly speaks, strongly, about how they are regarded in club.
Duncan Smith
Roar Guru
I agree that was a poor move on his part.