Each Friday I’m taking you on a trip down memory lane to relive the careers of some Australian rugby league’s lesser lights. We’ve had plenty of flyers so far who all seem to have a penchant for boneheaded acts, so with that in mind, this week’s selection comes from the Canberra Raiders.
Unfortunately, Canberra have a bad habit of picking players who find plenty of ways to get into trouble. In this case, they picked their noses and came up with a booger – specifically Jason ‘Booger’ Bulgarelli.
The original JB was much like Justin Bieber in terms of misbehaviour. While he didn’t piss in a bucket, he was involved in an ecstasy scandal that ultimately led to his career being very similar to the drug – a short rush with some big highs, culminating in a flaming wreck.
The year was 2003 and the Illawarra junior was enjoying a strong spell in reserve grade when injuries to Michael Robertson and Adam Mogg opened the door in Round 10.
A so-so debut meant Bulgarelli did not appear in first grade again until Round 20, but he stayed in the squad from that point on, playing in two finals and picking up the club’s rookie of the year honours along the way. It was an incredible, Cody Walker-like feat given Bulgarelli was 27 at the time.
The future appeared bright for Booger, starring for the Raiders with 17 games in 2004 as the club snuck into the finals in eighth position.
However, while the finals are something all teams hope to sneak in, Bulgarelli was attempting to sneak drugs into the club – literally, he had them sent to the Raiders headquarters.
Bulgarelli was cut immediately after the Raiders became aware of the incident and reported the matter to the Australian Federal Police.
Facing court in 2005, Bulgarelli pleaded guilty to attempting to receive 17 ecstasy tablets and was given a three-month suspended sentence and a 12-month good behaviour bond. He blamed his poor decision making on a bipolar diagnosis and a marriage breakdown.
He was able to somewhat revive his career in 2006, when he was thrown a lifeline by the Ipswich Jets on a two-year deal. Boogers played in both the 2007 and 2008 seasons, leaving Raiders fans with one of their first doses of ‘what could have been’.
Ultimately that would prepare them for Todd Carney, Steve Irwin, Josh Dugan, Joel Monaghan… Hang on, we could be here a while.
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