NRL great Paul Gallen says the Melbourne Storm trio are “lucky” to have escaped with a relatively lenient punishment following the white-powder video scandal.
Cameron Munster, Brandon Smith and Chris Lewis were each suspended for one match and fined a total of $49,000, after a video emerged of the three players in a hotel room with a white substance on the table.
Munster was hit the hardest, with a $30,000 fine, while Smith was fined $15,000 and Lewis $4000.
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The club imposed additional sanctions, however those fines were suspended.
Storm CEO Justin Rodski revealed yesterday that the trio were not drug tested after the incident came to light.
Speaking on 2GB’s Wide World of Sports radio program, Gallen agreed with host Mark Levy, who called the club’s response “pathetic.”
“I love arguing with you, but I can’t go against you,” Gallen said.
“The fact is, I was a former player, so I don’t like seeing players get in trouble. They’ve done it to themselves, I understand that.
“But they’re risk takers by nature, they’ve taken a big risk, they done something very silly, they’ve been called out for it.
“The person who took the video, I don’t know if he’s going to be punished, but I think he’s a dog.”
Gallen said the players have to be alert to the fact they’re in a vulnerable position.
“These blokes have put themselves in a stupid situation, it’s unthinkable really, how drunk they were to put themselves in that situation with people who would do that to them.
“What’s enough? That’s the question I’ve got to ask.”
In 2016, then Roosters captain Mitchell Pearce was fined $125,000 – $50,000 of which was suspended – and banned for eight matches after simulating a sex act with a dog at an Australia Day house party.
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Most now regard that penalty as grossly excessive, especially in light of subsequent sanctions that have been handed down.
“They’re very, very lucky,” Gallen said of the Melbourne trio.
“The fines they’ve been give, they’re lucky. I wrote something silly on social media many years ago and got fined $50,000 for that. Mitchell Pearce, it was insane what he got fined and the amount of games he was suspended for.
“I understand people’s frustration in what’s happened. What the boys did was stupid (and) idiotic, but it’s done now.”
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