Munster on his last chance

CAMERON Munster has been threatened with the sack, placed on a booze ban and sent to rehab as the Melbourne Storm’s white powder trio were put on notice for disgracing the game.

Munster, Brandon Smith and Chris Lewis will miss the opening round of the 2022 NRL season and face more than $200,000 in fines and having their contracts ripped up if they further transgress.

The NRL fined Munster ($30,000), Smith ($15,000) and Lewis ($4000) on Tuesday after an Integrity Unit investigation into a series of videos that surfaced last week.

The Storm followed up the NRL’S sanctions with their own penalties and threats.

After a number of off-field indiscretions, Munster has been placed on his final chance at Melbourne and will enter a four-week rehabilitation facility to deal with a “difficult relationship” with alcohol.

He has also been placed on a 12-month booze ban and has a $100,000 suspended fine hanging over his head, with Storm CEO Justin Rodski admitting the Queensland Origin five-eighth was on his last chance. Smith ($50,000) and Lewis ($10,000) were also issued suspended fines.

“I’ve had a difficult relationship with alcohol in the past,” Munster said.

“I thought I’d dealt with this issue but I clearly still have some hurdles to overcome.

“I want you to all know I am working on that. Starting tomorrow, I will be attending a treatment facility for the next four weeks.

“I’ve let a lot of people down and will do whatever it takes to restore your faith in me. Hopefully you will see by my actions I am dedicated to change.

“I am so sorry.”

Rodski said Munster was on his final warning at the Storm.

“I think you could take from this that he is (on his last chance),” he said.

The NRL’S one-game bans have been met with criticism for being too lenient while most of the Storm’s proposed penalties will not be enacted unless the players further transgress.