NRL star Kurt Capewell has been embroiled in an X-rated porn scandal after a video emerged showing him engaging in a sex act with another man.
Police and the NRL integrity unit were notified last year when a person tried to sell screenshots of the 27-year-old's sex tape.
The 49-minute video was recorded in 2013, when the Penrith Panthers player was working as a carpenter while starting out his rugby league career in local teams.
'I've lived with this for years. I've been concerned more for my family that it could come out and the embarrassment it would cause,' Capewell told
NRL star Kurt Capewell has been embroiled in an X-rated porn scandal a video emerged showing him engaging in a sex acts with another man
The video was made after Capewell, then 20, responded to an ad to make money doing a photo shoot for a sports clothing and underwear company
Capewell is now speaking out after the video went viral on porn websites and public forums this week.
The State of Origin star sent a text message to his Penrith teammates on Wednesday, giving them a 'heads up' about the video circulating online.
'Bit hard to put the full story into words but I was broke and doing some modelling, then I got talked into doing a xvideos porno free. Unknown to me but it turned out they put a bloke on the other side of the wall,' he wrote.
'I'm terribly embarrassed and ashamed even though it happened when I was so young.
'It's something I've been dealing with for the past 8 years behind closed doors and I know you will all have my back and stand by me moving forward.'
Capewell told his teammates, who include Nathan Cleary and Josh Mansour, so they would hear the full story from him.
He said though it was hard to tell them everyone in the locker room was supportive and understood his position.
He said during the shoot he was offered additional money to do the porn video, and because he needed the cash he said yes - not knowing all it entailed
The State of Origin star sent a text message to his Penrith teammates on Wednesday, giving them a 'heads up' about the video circulating online
The video was made after Capewell, then 20, responded to an ad to make money doing a photo shoot for a sports clothing and underwear company.
He said during the shoot he was offered additional money to do the porn video, and because he needed the cash he said yes - not knowing all it entailed.
Capewell said he was 'young and naive' at the time, and takes full responsibility.
The film depicts sportswear photos, nude pics, and a video of Capewell performing a variety of X-rated acts.
Capewell, who has a long term girlfriend, said the incident is a reminder to young people to be careful when being offered money for photoshoots.
The NRL integrity investigated the video last year but didn't take any action because the video was six years old by that time.
Capewell made his NRL debut in 2016 for the Cronulla Sharks. In 2019 he signed a signed a two-year deal to join Penrith.
Capewell said he was 'young and naive' at the time, and takes full responsibility for what happened