Donnelly’s claims come after Ben Barba tested positive to cocaine following Cronulla’s maiden premiership victory.

Donnelly was a member of St George’s back-to-back grand final sides of 1992-93 and reckons the white stuff is everywhere you turn following the big dance.

“Cocaine is everywhere after grand finals,” Donnelly told AAP.  

“I’m not casting judgement ... it’s just reality.

“Why do you think the NRL tests for recreational drugs?

“Society is society and back when I was playing you knew it would get out of your system in 48 hours.

“That’s what all the breaking your back for all year is: to have just maybe one night where you’d party all night and let your hair down.”

And although cocaine was “everywhere”, Donnelly said he never partook in the festivities enjoyed by some of his team mates.  

“I was too focused, obsessed, growing up on being an athlete. I wanted to go to the Olympics,” he said.

“The first time I was involved in a grand final, I was a bit overawed. I was only 21 and had come over from New Zealand.

“So then after the grand final, to see all the cocaine use was a bit of a surprise.”