The National Rugby League's Players Union is concerned about the need for Melbourne Storm players to receive counselling to help cope with the trauma of losing two premierships and being told to play for nothing.
The Players Association chief executive David Garnsey came away from a meeting with Storm players yesterday convinced they urgently need counselling before they can make any tough decisions about their futures.
As well as the lost 2007 and 2009 premierships and the stripping of points, Melbourne's players are confronting the fact that their close playing group will be broken up next year so the club can shed around $1 million in salary costs.
Any appeal against the penalties imposed on the Storm last week has already been ruled out, leaving a legal challenge funded by the players as the last resort.