Coaching great Phil Gould has blasted the actions of Latrell Mitchell and Josh Addo-Carr, calling for both to be suspended for the whole NRL season.
The two representative stars have been fined AU$1000 each by New South Wales Police for breaking social-distancing laws during coronavirus lockdown.
Investigators are also looking into a potential firearms breach, after the pair attended a gathering at a beach residence in the suburb of Taree on the weekend.
Gould has told Wide World of Sports radio the act was "highly irresponsible" and given the delicate situation around the resumption of the season, both players should be severely punished.
"Honestly, they don't deserve to be playing this year, simple as that," Gould says. "I know that might seem harsh, but the message has to get through to everybody.
"What they've done is highly irresponsible. It's put themselves above their teammates, their club and the game itself, and that might seem like a harsh penalty, but these are very, very difficult times and it was just uncalled for.
"Particularly when we're on the eve of trying to get back and particularly that the game was trying to convince the government that we can follow strict protocols and act outside the rest of society."
The NRL is vigorously working with all 20 clubs to pass strict biosecurity measures, so training can resume next week - those measures need to be approved by the Australian government.
Gould believes the actions of the players, who both posted several videos and pictures on social media, give serious cause for the government to shut the NRL's relaunch down.
Photos taken by Addo-Carr showed the pair with 10 others around a fire, prompting the NRL to label the pictures as disappointing and unacceptable.
The NRL's integrity unit is investigating and AAP reports interim chief executive Andrew Abdo could hand down punishments for the pair as soon as Tuesday.
Retired Melbourne Storm great Cooper Cronk has told Fox Sport he wouldn't be shocked if South Sydney and the Melbourne Storm have points docked, because of their players' disregard for public health.
"I think it's going to be harsh, I think it's going to be swift and I don't think you can do it to the individual," Cronk says.
"I think they're going to do maybe the points or something to take the club back a bit, because one slip that makes this game stop, it's going to cost the game a lot of money."
The season is set to get back underway on May 28.
