Melbourne coach Craig Bellamy has spoken on the recent white substance scandal that has tarnished the Storm's off-season.

Trio Cameron Munster, Brandon Smith and Chris Lewis have been sanctioned and suspended by the NRL following the release of damning footage that included the players being in possession of an unknown white powder.

The three players will all miss the Storm's opening match of next season and have received fines totalling close to $50,000 by the NRL.

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 25: Cameron Munster of the Storm is tackled during the round three NRL match between the Penrith Panthers and the Melbourne Storm at Panthers Stadium on March 25, 2021, in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

Melbourne looked to come down hard on their star players, handing down further punishments themselves, with Bellamy breaking his silence and expressing his own disappointment.

Speaking on 4BC Afternoons, the Storm coach said the trio were "well aware" of their actions in bringing the game into disrepute.

"I try to simplify a lot of things. For me, when I was their age we used to go out after games and have six, eight, 10 schooners,” Bellamy said.

“But the big difference is having half a dozen schooners isn’t illegal. What disappoints me so much is that these guys earn a good living, they’re doing what they love in life and what they did was illegal and they were very, very well aware of that.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - SEPTEMBER 17: Coach Craig Bellamy looks on during a Melbourne Storm NRL training session at Gosch's Paddock on September 17, 2019 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Darrian Traynor/Getty Images)

“They still ventured there. That is done now and we have to give them the education and guidance to make sure it doesn’t happen again.

“There has been a lot said and it has been really disappointing for us as a club, it’s been disappointing for the game.

“It’s really important now we get those guys the help and guidance they need to not be making those mistakes again.

“At the moment, we need to make sure we do all we can to make sure it doesn’t happen again."

TOWNSVILLE, AUSTRALIA - JULY 23: Brandon Smith of the Storm warms up before the start of the round 19 NRL match between the North Queensland Cowboys and the Melbourne Storm at QCB Stadium, on July 23, 2021, in Townsville, Australia. (Photo by Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images)

Bellamy revealed he first learnt of the footage in the minutes prior to this season's Dally M Awards night, an event that featured Smith in the Team of the Year.

The fallout of the scandal has left the futures of trio up in the air, with Munster's career coming under the most speculation.

Smith and the Storm are understood to have been in discussions surrounding a new deal for the Kiwi international to remain in Victoria, while Lewis remains contracted to the club until the end of the 2022 season.