{"id":139260,"date":"2021-10-05T01:32:13","date_gmt":"2021-10-05T01:32:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/?p=139260"},"modified":"2021-10-05T11:58:57","modified_gmt":"2021-10-05T11:58:57","slug":"four-banned-as-nrl-hands-out-hefty-sanctions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/?p=139260","title":{"rendered":"Four banned as NRL hands out hefty sanctions"},"content":{"rendered":"

The NRL<\/a> has suspended four players and handed out more than $50,000 in fines following a series of off-field dramas that overshadowed the final week of the season.<\/p>\n

Melbourne players Cameron Munster, Brandon Smith and Chris Lewis have been hit with a breach notice following the white-powder scandal<\/a> that engulfed the Storm last week. It proposes to ban each of the Storm players for one match.<\/p>\n

New Zealand's Reece Walsh has also been sanctioned for bringing the game into disrepute, after he was arrested and charged with cocaine possession on the Gold Coast. Walsh has been hit with a two-match ban.<\/p>\n

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"I understand that players have endured a long season under strict protocols," said NRL boss Andrew Abdo.<\/p>\n

"However, there is no excuse for the behaviour we have seen over the past week. The players have let themselves, their clubs and the rugby league community down.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

"These sanctions are designed to include an element of rehabilitation and development as well as having consequences for the individual and team."<\/p>\n

The breach notices propose a $30,000 fine for Munster, while Smith has been fined $15,000 and Lewis $4000, with each player to miss the opening match of the 2022 season.<\/p>\n

Walsh has been fined $5000 and suspended for two matches.<\/p>\n

\"Reece<\/p>\n

All four players will be required to complete education and training as directed by the NRL, while the Melbourne Storm has also handed down further sanctions<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Munster has been given a suspended $100,000 fine, stood down from the leadership group, and banned from alcohol for a year.<\/p>\n

Smith's fine is $50,000, also suspended, while he has been stood down from the emerging leadership group, and Lewis has been hit with a $10,000 suspended fine.<\/p>\n

All three players will have welfare support and action plans developed in consultation with health professionals.<\/p>\n

"This has been an incredibly challenging and disappointing period for everyone involved in our club," Storm CEO Justin Rodski said.<\/p>\n

\"Brandon<\/p>\n

"The decisions of these three players have hurt a lot of people and the players have broken the trust of the club and the game.<\/p>\n

"The players are genuinely remorseful for what has happened. They have made a significant error in judgement, and they are here today to own their decisions and take responsibility for their actions."<\/p>\n

Storm legend Cameron Smith last week described the actions of the Melbourne trio<\/a> as "mind-boggling".<\/p>\n

"These boys know the rules. It's illegal in society and within the game of rugby league," Smith told SEN radio.<\/p>\n

"I'd like to think they're smarter than the way they've acted.<\/p>\n

"To allow outsiders into a room and they've got phones out filming \u2026 it's mind-boggling to see these guys make these poor choices."<\/p>\n

Full punishments for the Melbourne Storm players:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Cameron Munster<\/strong><\/p>\n

– Official breach notice, $30,000 fine, one NRL match suspension<\/p>\n

– $100,000 (suspended) fine<\/p>\n

– Additional behavioural conditions as part of a disciplinary action agreement<\/p>\n

– Stood down from the Senior Leadership Group<\/p>\n

– Will enter and complete a four-week rehabilitation program<\/p>\n

– Will abstain from alcohol for a period of 12 months<\/p>\n

– Consultation with club medical team and health professionals to individualise a comprehensive ongoing welfare program<\/p>\n

Brandon Smith<\/strong><\/p>\n

– Official breach notice, $15,000 fine, one NRL match suspension<\/p>\n

– Additional behavioural conditions as part of a disciplinary action agreement<\/p>\n

– Stood down from the Emerging Leadership Group<\/p>\n

– Consultation with club medical team and health professionals to individualise a comprehensive ongoing welfare program<\/p>\n

Chris Lewis<\/strong><\/p>\n

– Official breach notice, $4,000 fine, one NRL match suspension<\/p>\n

– $10,000 (suspended) fine<\/p>\n

– Additional behavioural conditions as part of a disciplinary action agreement<\/p>\n

– Will assist with the development of a new education program for our young NRL talent and elite pathway programs<\/p>\n

– Consultation with club medical team and health professionals to individualise a comprehensive ongoing welfare program<\/p>\n

For a daily dose of the best of the breaking news and exclusive content from Wide World of Sports, subscribe to our newsletter by<\/strong><\/em> clicking here!<\/strong><\/em><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The NRL has suspended four players and handed out more than $50,000 in fines following a series of off-field dramas that overshadowed the final week […]<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/139260"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=139260"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/139260\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":139262,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/139260\/revisions\/139262"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=139260"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=139260"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=139260"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}