Newcastle's head of football Peter Parr has conceded the club's off-field issues are "self-inflicted" and indicative of a "lack of leadership" in the playing group after a video emerged of co-captain Kalyn Ponga and Kurt Mann being escorted out of a toilet cubicle by security.
The Knights told AAP they were made aware of the Snapchat video on Sunday night and on Monday, the club began an investigation that has now been handed over to the NRL integrity unit.
The integrity unit will work to ascertain the reason the pair were escorted from the toilet cubicle and whether any punishment needs to be enforced.
Parr's press conference on Tuesday was the second time he has fronted the media to address a disciplinary matter since joining the Knights on July 27.
Parr called a similar meeting after former State of Origin prop David Klemmer was stood down for verbally abusing a trainer mid-game in round 20.
At his press conference on Tuesday, Parr revealed outside backs Enari Tuala and Bradman Best had been stood down for missing the team bus over the weekend.
The off-field matters have been underscored by a disappointing season on the field, which has resulted in the Knights missing the finals for the first time since 2019.
"We're going through a tough period at the moment and just about all of it is self-inflicted," Parr told reporters.
"We have to own that and work out how we're going to get better.
"There is no doubt we need to improve the current standards and we need to improve them quickly if we're going to turn the club around."
Parr admitted the club was struggling for leadership amongst the playing group but said it was "way too early" to determine whether Ponga would lose the captaincy.
"There has been a lack of leadership around the playing group," he said.
"I have some sympathy for young people thrust into leadership roles. They're not always going to get it right. It's our job to help them and to educate them.
"I wouldn't say (the video) is great look but all the facts haven't been established yet, so let's wait until the process is finished and let the Integrity Unit do what they need to do."
Ponga is sidelined until the end of the season after suffering his third head knock in six weeks during round 19, but appeared to be drinking alcohol in the video with Mann.
Parr defended the fullback saying he had not been given instructions to avoid alcohol while concussed, and that he was confident he and Mann were not consuming other illicit substances in the cubicle.
"There's been no direction given to Kalyn that he couldn't drink. He's not breaking any rules," he said.
"Let's establish how much he actually had and what his behaviour was like.
"The indications to me are that (Ponga and Mann were not taking illicit substances), so I have to be confident that's the case."
Parr said he expected the integrity unit would conclude its findings sooner rather than later.
"We'll cooperate with them and then we'll make some decisions (about punishment) if we have to," he said.
"They haven't given me a time frame at the moment but I wouldn't expect it would take too long."
