Parramatta Eels forward Peni Terepo has been stood down by the club after an alcohol related incident in New Zealand over the weekend.

The incident is just the latest in a scandal-ridden off-season the NRL has had to endure.

The Eels confirmed the 27-year-old would miss this weekend's season opener against the Penrith Panthers.

"The Parramatta Eels have been made aware of an alcohol related incident involving Peni Terepo from the weekend in New Zealand," the club said in a statement.

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"The club has stood Peni down immediately, including this week’s Round 1 game against Penrith.

"The club will now work with the relevant authorities in New Zealand, the NRL Integrity Unit and the RLPA to investigate the incident thoroughly.

"This process will then guide our next steps.

"The club will make no further comment until the investigation is completed."

According to New Zealand-based news website Stuff, the incident occurred on a flight between Tonga and New Zealand.

According to Stuff, Terepo took his own alcohol onto the plane in a coffee cup and "refused to hand it over to Air New Zealand staff, insisting he was allowed to drink his own alcohol on the flight."

The same report quotes an eye witness saying Terepo threatened an air hostess before his manager took a large bottle of spirits from him.

"Who I really felt sorry for was the air hostess that sat across from him," the eye witness told Stuff.

"From her body language I could tell she felt uncomfortable as he prompted her with questions like "what are you doing after or tonight?" and "Do you come to Parramatta?" in his drunken state."

More to come.