NRL players have been urged to mind the company they keep, after the emergence of rugby league's latest off-season scandal.
Former NRL premiership winner Paul Gallen and coaching great Phil Gould have made the call, after a video was made public, allegedly showing NZ Kiwis star Brandon Smith and Melbourne Storm teammate Cameron Munster in a room with a white substance on a table.
The NRL integrity unit is investigating the incident.
Gallen says players need to take responsibility for their actions, but also criticises the company they keep off-field, especially during the offseason, when their guards may be down.
"You've got to be very careful who you surround yourself with," Gallen tells Nine's 100% Footy.
"That's the biggest issue - who these guys are with is the biggest issue - it's not them. It's not themselves, it's not their families, it's not their teammates, it's who they're with.
"You take responsibility for your actions, but that bloke who took the photo and sent it out, if he had've sat there and said, 'What you guys are doing is wrong you're professional athletes, don't do it', and they had said 'Get nicked' and then he would've done it, I would've said you have to cop it.
"But he's taken this video to get them in trouble.
"I've said it over and over - they can't put themselves in that situation. It's their fault and they've got to take responsibility for it - I'm not saying they don't - but who they surround themselves with, they've got to be more careful.
"Whether it's the captain or the club, the welfare officer at the club, someone at the club has to tell these guys to be very careful who you surround yourself with, because it's always the other people around them that are getting them in trouble, not themselves."
Gould agrees and says some people are just on the hunt to "get" professional athletes.
"I say two things to players - one, you sign a contract saying you won't do it and two, you'll get away with it a thousand times, some will never ever get caught, until it's your face in the newspaper and your face in the news, and it becomes very, very real," he says.
"Why take that risk? You've got a whole life after football to do whatever you like. You can go back into society and do what you want, but while you're a professional footballer, understand that there are people that are out to get you."
Smith and Munster will be interviewed by the NRL integrity unit over the video.
"Melbourne Storm is aware of a video provided to the NRL integrity unit yesterday," the club says. "The club and players involved are cooperating with the NRL integrity unit investigation.
"As the matter is currently under investigation, the club is not in a position to comment further until this process has been completed."
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