Their official findings are expected to be handed down before Friday's start to the World Cup 9s.

While Asofa-Solomona has claimed he was sticking up for his Storm teammate Suliasi Vunivalu, who had allegedly been king-hit by a drunken patron - not to mention claims the aggressor later returned armed with a bottle - the social media footage was a shocking look for rugby league.

Greg Inglis was stripped of the Kangaroos captaincy and missed two Tests against New Zealand and Tonga 12 months ago after he pleaded guilty to drink-driving.

English cricketer Ben Stokes missed an entire Ashes series for his part in a drunken brawl outside a Bristol hotel which he said happened after he came to the defence of a gay couple.

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NRL boss Todd Greenberg returned to work at the start of the year after the ''summer from hell'' and when it came to player misbehaviour and told the Herald: "Take it as read: the first time we put the hammer down this year, it's going to be bigger and harder. If anyone says, 'What about?...' There will be no 'what about?' We're in a new era now. It's a reset.''

The Kiwis are entitled to feel frustrated given the incident occurred while on Storm time, yet any ban handed to the player would impact them.

Kiwis coach Michael Maguire spoke to Asofa-Solomona on Monday but was not prepared to comment on the NRL investigation.

"The game will look after that in due time,'' Maguire told reporters. "I won't assume anything [about potential punishment], and at the end of the day you need to make sure they're thorough in what they go through, and I'm sure the integrity unit will do that.''

New Zealand Rugby League boss Greg Peters told the Herald: "Nelson is a big part of our set-up, and he expressed strong loyalty to the Kiwis earlier in the year, and exactly that's what we're looking for in players - loyalty to the black and white. Having said that it's before the integrity unit and I won't comment further on the process until it's concluded.''

Fiji remain hopeful Vunivalu, who sustained a cut to his face from the nightclub brawl, will join their squad on Wednesday ahead of this weekend's World Nines tournament . The winger had already been given an extra day before joining the main playing group because he was on holidays.

The Storm spoke on Monday with Asofa-Solomona, who touched down in Melbourne at first light. The  powerhouse prop conceded he had done the wrong thing, but reiterated he was simply defending Vunivalu.

"CEO Dave Donaghy and representatives of the club’s football department staff, including a player wellbeing and welfare manager, met with Nelson [on Monday] as part of the club’s investigation,'' the club said via a release.

"The Storm has provided an update to the NRL Integrity Unit. Storm will be looking at all the facts involved in this incident and will reserve its position on any possible ramifications until every aspect has been properly assessed and considered.

"The RLPA has also been consulted and will continue to be engaged through the process.''