Newcastle chief executive Phil Gardner has strongly refuted claims former playmaker Jarrod Mullen overdosed at a party of an ex-player's brother, while clearing the current playing group of any involvement.

Gardner is responding to allegations made by Fairfax Media that Mullen overdosed on drugs at a party hosted by Willie Mason's brother, Les, and that two current players were in attendance.

"To the best of my knowledge none of our top 36 were at any of those parties, I think the reports aren't accurate, I don't know why they've been reported but it certainly doesn't represent the facts," Gardner told reporters.

"They've also got the issue with Jarrod wrong. Jarrod did overdose, he did not overdose at the party. He was found at home by his family.

''I can only say to you again, what a tragedy for the family. Anybody that's a parent who finds themselves in this situation would understand how difficult this is for everybody.

"This keeps getting played out again and again and again and it's just wrong."

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Mullen almost lost his life and spent two days in intensive care last December and is now at a subject of a police probe over suspicion of links to a drug supply ring.

Once notified of his overdose, the NRL helped to arrange Mullen’s rehabilitation. After being discharged from hospital, Mullen then entered a rehab centre for six weeks.

Gardner said the club would "do everything we can to assist Jarrod and his family".

"We must understand that he's been barred of contact with the game for the next four years," he said.

"I can assure you in rugby league we do the absolute best we can to rehabilitate and look after people.

"We're going to do our best. We're also going to use it as an example of what not to do for our players so they understand.

"Jarrod's journey from the absolute pinnacle of our game to where he is today brings a tear to my eye.

"This young man was a Wests junior, I've known him since he was a child, I've known his family for many years, he's a distant cousin.

"We don't want to see this happen to anybody ever again."

Mullen is currently serving a four-year doping ban after he failed a drug test to a banned steroid.

Mullen made his NRL debut for Newcastle as an 18-year-old against Wests Tigers in 2005.

He played one State of Origin match for NSW as a 20-year-old in 2007, despite having just 31 first grade appearances to his name.

Mullen ended up featuring in 211 NRL games for the Knights.