It’s all a blur but Bromwich accepts his punishment

MELBOURNE Storm forward Jesse Bromwich admits to drinking “far too much alcohol” but has no memory of what took place outside a Canberra nightclub in the early hours of Saturday morning.

Storm yesterday slapped Bromwich with a two- match ban after he was snapped on CCTV video – alongside New Zealand teammate and former Storm player Kevin Proctor – allegedly buying cocaine off a man outside a city nightclub.

Bromwich, 27, has taken full responsibility for putting himself at risk and breaching the club’s strict codes of conduct.

He also stepped down from Storm’s leadership group and surrendered the New Zealand captaincy.

Bromwich, who only re- cently signed a blockbuster three- year contract extension, will donate to charity his match payment of about $ 20,000 from the Anzac Test on Friday night.

Bromwich yesterday forfeited the right to appeal the sanctions.

“I’d like to start by firstly apologising to my family, Melbourne Storm, New Zealand Rugby League, the NRL, my teammates, the sponsors, and the members and fans,” Bromwich said in a statement.

“I regret making the choice of staying out with my teammates until the early hours of Saturday morning, as well as consuming an excessive amount of alcohol.

“I take full responsibility for the poor choices I made, I am devastated and my actions were out of character.”

Bromwich is likely to also receive a strike under the NRL’s illicit drugs code.

Storm chief executive Dave Donaghy revealed Bromwich’s recollection of what occurred on Friday night was “quite hazy”. “What he does admit to is consuming far too much alcohol and putting himself in a position of risk,” Donaghy said.

“He is extremely remorseful.”