Now the 2021 NRL season has ended with a Penrith victory, the focus has moved to off-field antics with fines having been handed out to players for recent out-of-line behaviour.
New Zealand Warriors teenage star fullback Reece Walsh has been fined $5,000 and suspended for two games by the NRL after being arrested last week in possession of cocaine.
Walsh is also facing criminal charges plus further consequences in-house at the Warriors.
Melbourne Storm five-eighth Cameron Munster was issued a suspended $100,000 fine by the club, on top of the $30,000 sanction from the NRL, having been charged with bringing the game into disrepute.
Munster and teammates Brandon Smith and Chris Lewis said they were too drunk to remember what the “white substance” was on a table at a hotel where fellow players were partying before the NRL Grand Final.
“It’s not a good look,” Izzy Dagg told SENZ Breakfast.
Asked if he’d ever had a $100,000 fine, the 66-test former All Black said “No way! I’ve had a couple of police infringements but that’s about it.”