Parramatta forward Shaun Lane labelled himself an ‘idiot’ but denied he was holding drugs in a Mad Monday photo prank.
Lane was fined $17,500 after photos emerged of him holding a small plastic bag containing a white substance during Manly’s Mad Monday drinking session last year.
Speaking for the first time about the night in question, Lane was quick to stress his actions were stupid but not illegal.
“If there’s suggestions it was illicit substances or anything like that, I didn’t do anything illegal,” he declared on Monday.
MORE: NRL Nines get new home | Smith underfire for grubby tactics
“That’s what they (the NRL Integrity Unit) found as well.
“I take full accountability for taking that photo and for looking silly and bringing the game into disrepute.
“I’ve accepted my punishment.”
Lane said he took the photo as a joke and sent it to a select group of people.
He was embarrassed when it emerged on the front page of The Daily Telegraph after being leaked by a person he did not want to name .
“It was (in) immediate regret of my actions,” Lane said.
“It was sent as a joke but I was the one silly enough to take it and send it.
“I felt like an idiot. I am very apologetic.”