The NRL has reportedly warned NZ Warriors and Manly Sea Eagles players, after showing support to convicted ex-teammate Manase Fainu.
Last weekend, Warriors prop Addin Fonua-Blake - along with Manly trio Josh Schuster, Haumole Olakau'atu and Josh Aloiai - made gestures in support of Fainu, who awaits sentencing for stabbing a Mormon church leader.
According to Australia's Daily Telegraph, NRL integrity boss Jason King has reached out to respective Warriors and Sea Eagles chief executives Cameron George and Tony Mestrov, urging them to warn their players over support for Fainu.
"This is something that our integrity team is taking a look at," NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo told the Daily Telegraph.
"We are in active dialogue with the clubs involved. I am not necessarily pleased with the fact we have allegations of players showing support potentially under these circumstances, but we will need to look at it.
"We are in dialogue with the club and I think the club will deal with the matter with the players. I think it is important for us to understand the context of what has happened.
"I am not in position to pass judgment, because I am not sure what the context is for this. That is happening now through discussion with the club."
Abdo also communicated that although no official rules have been breached, the celebrations could damage the NRL's reputation.
"I am not saying there has been any breach of the rules, but clearly we want to make sure that this isn't something that is seen as a negative for our game, for the players and for the sport more generally."
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