NRL judiciary panel members are still considering legal action against Melbourne - but if they pursue it they might have to pay any expensive costs out of their own pockets.
After indicating to Fairfax earlier this week he and fellow panel members Royce Ayliffe and Darren Britt would continue with proceedings against the Storm after a "half-arsed" apology from the club, Darrell Williams said last night they were "uncertain about the next step".
The trio did not meet NRL chief executive David Gallop as planned, but when they do they are sure to discuss if the NRL will help pay for any further action against the Storm.
In the past, the NRL has helped fund legal proceedings on behalf of the judiciary until the point when an apology is given.
The test case was in 2001 when Ayliffe, Williams, former panel member Ian Roberts and judiciary commissioner Jim Hall sued Fairfax columnist Phil Gould for comments about the suspension of former Dragons captain Craig Smith.
When the NRL withdrew funding, the parties settled the matter after mediation.
"In the past, we generally support them to the point where a public apology is given," Gallop said. "But after that, it's a matter for the individuals. I haven't discussed the issue with the judiciary members today."
There have been murmurs since last week that other panel members who were not on the judiciary that suspended Storm captain Cam Smith for two matches were also considering action against the Storm.
Former Dragons centre Mark Coyne refused to rule it out when contacted yesterday but said he wasn't "personally offended" by suggestions from Storm chief executive Brian Waldron or coach Craig Bellamy the judiciary had prejudged Smith or bookmakers knew of the result before the hearing.
"My first reaction was that they were not slandering me," he said. "I wasn't personally offended by their remarks so I won't be doing anything at this stage. Watch this space. If I thought there was some good in taking action and it would help protect the integrity of the judiciary, I'd take a stand."
It remains unclear if judiciary chairman Greg Woods will pursue action. Calls to the District Court judge's chambers yesterday were not returned.
Meanwhile, police are continuing investigations into disgraced former Raider Todd Carney about the smashing of a mobile phone shop window in Goulburn on Saturday morning.
A police spokesperson confirmed a report in The Canberra Times that the Huddersfield-bound playmaker had been arrested at a Goulburn pub on Saturday night, questioned about the incident and then released "pending further inquiries".
No charges have been laid against the 22-year-old, who is presently en route to the troubled central African nation of Rwanda with other rugby league players to help build an orphanage. Police refused to say if he was drunk at the time of the incident.
Carney's manager, David Riolo, said he had not spoken to his client since the report surfaced but Carney had not mentioned it to him before leaving the country.
"I don't know anything about it," he said. "He didn't discuss it with me before he left but as far as I can tell he wasn't involved."
The trip to Rwanda, which is headed by former Raiders prop Paul Osborne, is seen as a chance for Carney to help rebuild his life.
Canberra dumped Carney during the season after a string of alcohol-related incidents. Another one might jeopardise the three-year deal he recently signed with Huddersfield, where he is due to link with former Dragons coach Nathan Brown.
Meanwhile, Roosters halfback Mitchell Pearce was awarded the Jack Gibson Medal as the club's player of the season at the club's presentation last night. Pearce edged out Craig Fitzgibbon and Mark O'Meley for the award.