Shaun Lane back at Eels training after white powder video surfaces

Shaun Lane was back at training on Tuesday and will play this weekend as the NRL and Parramatta investigate photos appearing to show the Eels star in possession of a white substance during a Mad Monday bender.

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Shaun Lane called his Parramatta teammates on Monday night to tell them about screen shot images taken of him which appear to show the Eels forward in possession of a white substance during a team bender at his former club Manly.

Lane was one of the last players to arrive at Parramatta training on Tuesday as he prepared to face his Eels teammates for the first time since the images became public.

Wearing a black Puma jumper, grey trackpants and thongs and carrying a backpack, Lane, 24, walked into training at the Old Saleyards Reserve with teammate Daniel Alvaro.

NRL Integrity Unit officials met with the Eels on Tuesday morning at club headquarters. While Lane is expected to be interviewed later this evening, but there is unlikely to be a resolution today.

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Parramatta forward Shaun Lane arrives at Eels training with teammate Daniel Alvaro on Tuesday afternoon. Picture: Jonathan Ng

Lane has been named in Parramatta’s side to take on the Gold Coast on Saturday when the team is released at 4pm.

Veteran forward David Gower revealed Lane had reached out to teammates to warn them about the images on Monday night.

“We rallied around Shaun last night when he told us,” Gower said before Lane arrived at training on Tuesday.

“We haven’t seen it yet or each other really but I’m sure we’ll have a chat about it [when he gets to training] but we are just going to support him and let the process take place.”

The NRL and the Eels are currently investigating Lane and the images, which were at the Sea Eagles’ Mad Monday celebrations in September last year, before Lane switched to the Eels.

Shaun Lane during Manly’s Mad Monday celebrations (left), and Snapchat images of the former Sea Eagle holding a plastic bag containing a white substance.

Eels Skipper Clint Gutherson said while he wasn’t across the details of the incident, his team would rally around Lane.

“I’m sure it’ll probably hit him but he will have the support avenues there to look after him and make sure he’s OK,” Gutherson said.

“We’ll support him as a mate and look after him.”

It’s understood the club is eager to wrap up the investigation as quickly as possible. Outgoing CEO Bernie Gurr and general manager of football Mark O’Neill met on Tuesday morning at the club’s headquarters.

The drama has come at a bad time for the Eels, who are on the cusp of a return to the NRL finals after collecting last year’s wooden spoon.

Shaun Lane arrives at training.

Shaun Lane in action.

Manly spent their Mad Monday in fancy dress on a harbour cruise last year.

Players dressed up as characters from movies released in the year they were born. Lane went as Forrest Gump which was released in 1994.

Screenshots taken from multimedia messaging app Snapchat of a wide-eyed Lane holding a plastic bag containing a powdery substance, and then appearing to be placing something into his open mouth.

The Snapchat was sent in a group text and has been seen by numerous people around Sydney.

Lane has been a key strike forward for the Eels in their charge to the finals.

Originally published as Shaun Lane back at Eels training after white powder video surfaces