NRL news: Storm coach Craig Bellamy reveals when he learned of ‘White Powder incident’

The official line from the club and NRL is that the ‘white powder trio’ can’t remember what happened – Craig Bellamy appears to think otherwise.

Storm coach Craig Bellamy said the ‘Powder trio’ knew they were breaking the law. Picture: Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images

Melbourne coach Craig Bellamy has broken his silence on the ‘white powder scandal’, suggesting the three Storm players found to have brought the game into disrepute were well aware that a snort of cocaine is illegal.

Cameron Munster, Brandon Smith and Chris Lewis were sanctioned by both the NRL and club after they were filmed in a room with a bag of white powder in the lead up to last weekend’s grand final.

In announcing the sanctions against the players, Melbourne officials revealed the players were not drug tested and had told them that they could not remember what had happened in the room due to the effects of alcohol.

Storm coach Craig Bellamy has said the ‘Powder trio’ knew they were breaking the law. Picture: Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images

“I am not an expert in what the guidelines should be and what rules should be brought in,” Bellamy told Sofie Formica on 4BC Afternoons.

“A lot of people say it is rife in society now. I try to simplify a lot of things. For me, when I was their age we used to go out after games and have six, eight, 10 schooners.

“But the big difference is having half a dozen schooners isn’t illegal. What disappoints me so much is that these 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.

“They still ventured there. That is done now and we have to give them the education and guidance to make sure it doesn’t happen again.”

Munster was the hardest hit when the sanctions were invoked by the NRL and the Storm – he has been placed on a 12-month booze ban and entered a rehabilitation clinic this week to undergo treatment for alcohol.

Along with Smith and Lewis, he was also heavily fined and will miss the opening game of next season.

Bellamy said the white-powder affair has left the Storm coach and the entire Melbourne club deeply hurt.

“It was difficult, especially coming off our performance in the prelim (their 10-6 loss to Penrith),” he said.

“I found out about half an hour before the Dally M Awards what had happened, I wasn’t even 100 per cent sure what did happen until after the Awards.

“There has been a lot said and it has been really disappointing for us as a club, it’s been disappointing for the game.

“It’s really important now we get those guys the help and guidance they need to not be making those mistakes again.

“They did a lot of education in those areas from the club but also the NRL. The NRL are great with education in those areas, but it’s particularly disappointing for our club.

“At the moment, we need to make sure we do all we can to make sure it doesn’t happen again.

“Hopefully that will be the case.”

It is understood Bellamy has told Melbourne officials that he was speaking as a general rule and not specifically about the Storm trio.

The club insists Bellamy is unaware whether anything illegal took place and has no idea of what was in the bags in the video footage.

‘MAD DOG’ MUNSTER’S EMPIRE HANGING BY A THREAD

Cameron Munster’s “Mad Dog” brand has come crashing down after the Melbourne Storm star checked into rehab to tackle a long-term drinking problem.

Munster commenced a four-week rehabilitation program at a southeast Queensland facility on Wednesday following the Storm’s “white powder trio” scandal involving teammates Brandon Smith and Chris Lewis.

While the players didn’t admit to taking drugs, nor were they drug tested due to the NRL’s policy, they were sanctioned for bringing the game into disrepute.

On top of a $30,000 fine and one-game ban from the NRL, Munster decided to formally address what he described as a “difficult relationship” with alcohol by attending a rehab clinic.

Cameron Munster faces the sack from the Storm if he slips up again.

The Storm have placed the Queensland Origin star on a 12-month alcohol ban which will trigger a $100,000 suspended fine and possible sacking if Munster transgresses again.

And the Storm’s sanctions are not the only concern for Munster, who has become one of the NRL’s most marketable players.

Munster, 27, has built a personal brand off his larrikin nature, attracting numerous sponsorships and ambassadorial deals from a range of companies.

He has his own alcoholic ginger beer, Mad Dog by Terella Brewing, brewed on the Sunshine Coast.

Munster, who is expecting his first child next year, is now faced with a conundrum around how he promotes alcohol while being on a booze ban and admitting he has a drinking problem.

Prior to the white powder saga, Munster lost a personal sponsorship with supplements giant Musashi. After featuring in Musashi promotional videos as recently as May this year, Munster is no longer anywhere on the business’ website.

Cameron Munster spruiking his own alcoholic ginger beer, Mad Dog.

Munster also has sponsorship deals with sporting apparel giant Puma and country clothing company Ringers Western.

Earlier this year, Munster spoke about how he was creating a business empire which is now set to take a hit.

“I wouldn’t call myself book smart but I believe I network well with people. By nature, I love having a yarn with people and having a joke,” he said.

“I would never want someone to think that I’m better than them. I admire the Australian attitude of being humble and having a beer and that sums me up as a person.

“I think I appeal to the ordinary Aussie bloke because I am who I am.

“I don’t consider myself to be better than anyone.”

But Munster is now set to undergo a character conversion.

The majority of his off-field problems have stemmed from drinking, particularly after he was sent home from Kangaroos camp during the 2017 World Cup.

Cameron Munster’s larrikin nature has helped him attract an impressive list of sponsors.

Storm CEO Justin Rodski said the club hoped Munster could get his life and career back on track.

“He’s an extremely talented athlete, and he brings an enormous amount to our club both on and off the field,” he said.

“He’s a great character, a great person and we love having him around, but we now need him to focus on getting his health right and getting his fitness right.

“Not only to help him become a better person, but to become a better father, but also the best possible player he can be. He could be a Dally M winner, there’s no question about that if he puts his mind to it.

“For us, it’s about his welfare first and foremost, the person, and we know if he gets that right he’s going to be a better player.

“We’re really hopeful the plan that’s put in place, the program we’ve put in place for Cameron and the decisions we’ve made around the sanctions and actions we require from him will help him do that.

“Hopefully we look back on this as an important turning point in not only his career but also his life.”

Originally published as NRL news: Storm coach Craig Bellamy reveals when he learned of ‘White Powder incident’