Retired South Sydney Rabbitoh Lote Tuqiri has blasted his former club for their handling of the Dylan Walker/Aaron Gray prescription drugs saga saying the pair never overdosed and that the Rabbitohs have let the media run with it.

Asked by foxsports.com.au about Sam Burgess’ return, Tuqiri took it off his own bat to delve into the treatment of his former team-mates.

“Sam [Burgess] is a leader in his own right. When Sam says something to that squad I’m sure they will all listen,” Tuqiri said.

They’re quite a young squad and everything else.

“In saying that, I’m disappointed with some of what came out in the media with the Dylan Walker and Aaron Gray stuff.

“I’m disappointed with how Souths handled that. I don’t know the ins and outs of it but it was never an overdose, it’s just been portrayed that way.

“That wasn’t handled the best but with Sam coming back there’ll be an expectation of leading by example.

“He’s done that in the past and he’ll do that going forward in the Rabbitohs jersey.”

Tuqiri was part of Souths’ premiership glory in 2014.