Sydney Roosters coach Brad Fittler claims the drive-by shooting and death threats aimed at some of the NRL's biggest names this week are a blight more on society than on the game itself.

While Roosters star Willie Mason and Parramatta hooker Mark Riddell refused to comment on death threats directed at them via a phone call to a news organisation, their respective coaches came out swinging.

Eels mentor Michael Hagan made a public plea for players to grow up while Fittler said the game's high profile stars needed to be aware they would be targeted by the general public.

"The public seems to really enjoy reading about negativity and that's what is selling papers and TV ratings ... They (players) have got to learn that and understand that," Fittler said.

"I think it's a bit of a blight on society these days.

"Players will still drink at a place that sometimes can show violence and they got caught up with the wrong crowd.

"They'll understand now who are the right crowd, when to drink and they'll have to make a more appropriate time if they want to go and have a beer.

"It's really curbed the behaviour (of players) ... we've nearly got to be angels these days.

"It's happened all of a sudden when you (realise) footy has been going for 100 years and they drank that heavily 30 years ago."

Asked if he thought the general public were picking fights with players, Fittler said: "I don't get out much now so I don't see it ... but maybe they do ... maybe they (public) get off on it."

Mason trained with the rest of his teammates with no sign of any extra security at the Roosters base.

Police are continuing to investigate the source of the phone call and are conducting regular patrols of both Mason's and Riddell's homes.

"Obviously there's some concern for Willie but hopefully we'll give him as much support as possible," Fittler said.

"He seems to be all right but there is a concern.

"If it's a prank it's a pretty ordinary prank. If it's fair dinkum then hopefully they find the people acting carelessly."

Fittler said the club could revisit the ban put in place by Ricky Stuart in 2002 which saw all Roosters players barred from frequenting the suburb of Kings Cross.

The Eels are also believed to be mulling over that possibility with the coaching staff and the players leadership group meeting over what amendments the club should make to its policy on late night drinking sessions.

Hagan had the look of a man fed up with the alcohol-related troubles at the club over the past year, and admitted the three players targeted in the drive-by shooting - Jarryd Hayne, Weller Hauraki and Junior Paulo - were likely to be sanctioned by the club.

"I think the team, the football club, the fans and the sponsors have been let down ... fans are sick of reading about it and hearing about it and I think it's time players took some responsibility for what they do," Hagan said.

"You can't baby sit them 24 hours a day.

"Players are responsible and are adults and are professional in what they do and I think some of the behaviour's been unprofessional and put the team under pressure when we don't need it."

Asked whether the club had perhaps been too lenient in the past in dealing with alcohol-related incidents, Hagan said: "You've got to deal with each case that comes along but in the end you can't put yourself in that situation consistently for fear of what might happen to you and that's unfortunately a lesson we haven't learnt too well.

"No-one's saying you can't go out and enjoy yourself in reason, but you've got to know where the line in the sand is and you just can't put yourself in that position any more."

The Eels said no decision on what form of punishment the trio will be facing would be announced until Thursday.

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