By Sam Phillips
Parramatta are hopeful Shaun Lane can avoid suspension after being engulfed in the NRL's latest off-field scandal.
Lane has been named by Eels coach Brad Arthur to take on the Titans on Friday night and it is understood Parramatta are hopeful the forward may only be hit with fine after making headlines on Monday night, when a photo of the 24-year-old holding a small bag of white powder was published.
A leaked Snapchat screenshot of Lane shows the Eels forward holding a small bag of white powder.
The image was sent on the night of Manly's Mad Monday celebrations late last year.
The matter is now being dealt with by the Eels and the NRL Integrity Unit, with an official announcement as to what Lane's punishment will be expected in the next couple of days.
Lane met with Eels officials on Tuesday morning but left the club's North Parramatta base before their main training session in the afternoon to meet with the Integrity Unit.
Eels captain Clint Gutherson said the players will all lend their support wherever possible.
"We will support Laney as much as we can but that’s up to the club and the NRL to sort out," Gutherson said.
"I’m sure it will probably hit him but he has the support avenues there to look after him and to make sure he’s all right.
Eels forward Shaun Lane.Credit: AAP
"It has nothing to do with me. We just have to support him as a mate and look after him."
Gutherson is confident the latest off-field scandal to hit the NRL will not rattle the Eels, who are in season best form at the right time of year.
"I don’t think so. That’s up to Laney and the club and the NRL to sort out," Gutherson said.
"It has nothing to do with me. I wasn’t there at the time.
"We just have to focus on footy and getting back to playing the footy we know. We will support Laney as much as we can but that’s up to the club and the NRL to sort out."
Eels veteran David Gower said Parramatta players had already offered their support when Lane told them about the imminent headlines on Monday.
"We rallied around Sean last night when he told us," Gower said.
"We will have a chat about it but we will just support him and let the process take its place.
"It happened at a previous club. It wasn’t on our watch.
"We need to focus on the game and we’re paid to play football.
"We aren’t paid to listen to media hype or to listen to negative headlines that people are going to run.
"We need to be professional and our whole focus is on getting better as a team at training and that starts today for us."
Gower, who is eager to play on at the club next season, said the next generation of players need to take particular care with their actions given smartphones are always recording.
"I think recent history has taught us that generationally, there is an issue with people using phones all the time. For everything," Gower said.
"That needs to stop but it doesn’t look like it will stop.
"The boys get education, they get all that sort of stuff all the time.
"We just need to understand our role in society and as football players, that’s to be examples.
"If something does happen then we need to be up front with the club and the stakeholders in the game and understand consequences will follow."