Parramatta Eels forward Shaun Lane could be in hot water after photos have emerged of him holding a plastic bag containing a white powder.
The Daily Telegraph is reporting the photos were taken during Mad Monday celebrations with former club Manly, with the NRL integrity unit and current club Parramatta both investigating.
It's not known if it was in fact an illegal substance in Lane's possession, nor if it was consumed by him.
Although the photos look to be from last season, Lane could still be facing a fine or even suspension as the NRL looks to stamp out this sort of behaviour.
NRL boss Todd Greenberg warned earlier in the year that any video or photo damaging to the game will incur significant penalties, including suspension no matter how old they are.
"Iโm trying to find a balance thatโs fair and reasonable on the player and the club he is playing for," Greenberg said.
"Every player would now be acutely aware that if they are going to take videos that are idiotic they can expect bigger sanctions."
The Eels have released the following statement regarding the investigation.
The Parramatta Eels Club have issued the following statement.
- The Parramatta Eels are aware of photos which allegedly feature a current Eels player.
- These photos may have been taken before his time at the Club
- The Club has begun an internal investigation and will work with the NRL integrity unit on the appropriate next steps.
- We will be making no further comment until the investigation has been completed.
I heard he was studying at TAFE to become a baker.
If anyone should be investigated it should be manly for their mad Monday antics.
The timing of this is funny.
Manly lost on the weekend and Parra won.
Parra are now a good chance to leap frog manly and now this gets released. Sounds like grubby tactics from somone at manly to me.
Anyway he was just holding it for Turbo. He looks like a line snorter.
At the time of the incident he knew he was becoming an eel, so he decided to get an early start to embarrassing the code and fit right in with the eel ethic.
If any one has to be investigated should be the News Paper and the reporters trying to tarnish a player. where there is no proof of any thing illegal
Kev, good point if connected.
Reminds me of last year when just before the finals a female rooster supporter released photos supposedly involving Sam Burgess which were proven false but had an affect on souths chances and Sam’s marriage.
I believe she is still wanted to be interviewed but has to this point avoided coming back to Australia.
Look forward to this being followed up and who else may have been implicated.
Kev, Get off the gear mate
Hey Kev.. If I were you, I’d just say ‘ Grub player at a Grub Club ‘! . Which kind of fits nicely. As he was at Manly when the photos were taken & now he’s at Partamatta.
Or some other rubbish to do with ‘ The Riff ‘?
In actual fact it’s just him & the others with him who are idiots , if snorting.
Rubbish he was at Manly when the photos were taken. Where’s your evidence old son? He was actually out with his new parra team mates on mad monday. Manly pushed him out the door when they found out he was leaving.