If any young sportsman would like to see the benefits of giving up alcohol just have a look at a Roosters game. It occurred to me just after the Sydney Roosters had just defeated the South Sydney Rabbitohs 36 points to 10 that their three best players, Nat Myles, Mitchell Pearce and Todd Carney had all given up the drink.
They were already stars but they looked different, played different and wow, what an improvement.
When our professional athletes are all looking for an edge, that one per center, giving up alcohol could start to rub off on more players. Slowly but surely they are starting to see some of their team mates have had their careers ruined by drinking and that it is not worth it, oh, and the added bonus, is they recover quicker and player better.
Nat Myles has gone from an over weight prop and back rower to a slim lock forward who after topping the tackle count was still able to pace it with nippy opposition backs with speed I had no idea he had.
His cleaning up in the middle third of the ground was the key reason why the Roosters were so successful against and leaderless Rabbitohs.
Roosters coach Brian Smith implemented a masterful game plan using his little men with dummy half runs at the big Souths pack, who were without any direction from their quiet 6 and 7. They are desperate for Croker to come back so they will have a talker.
The media and even the great Wayne Bennett have labeled Rabbitohs half back Chris Sandow as the “next Thurston”. For mine, the red and greens will struggle until they find a half who can organise and implement a consistent kicking game.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
Agree why a pro athlete needs to cloud his mind with a few beers regularly escapes me,and i am not abstainer.I have to hand it to guys like Wayne Pearce,who didn't feel the need to drink, was fully committed to the health of his body and mind,and as a result was an 80 minute player,who still had it in him after the final whistle. Carney always had the talent,seeing him at the Raiders,and his hopefully full committment to the game,will see this talent flourish.He is ATS a strong chance for origin. This old fashioned idea of bonding involving the slops,is dated,unnecessary and can lead to problems.Saying that I remember teh horse riding instigated by Junior pearce for a SOO pre session which ended in disaster for robbie Kearns. Isn't there enough time to have a couple of beers the next day after a match is completed,and there is a 4 months off season to also imbibe responsibly.
Chris
Guest
Well you can't impose a drinking ban as an afterthought - but if it is a clause in all new contracts then the players will have no choice but to accept it or, if drinking means that much to them, chosing a different club. Perhaps as an incentive clubs adhering to the "no drinking clause" should stipulate that players would be allowed a couple of drinks after a win. Rugby League is often a game of inches. If Carney was still drinking he might not have been fast enough to stay in touch by that 1/2cm on the weekend. Nate Myles would have had no chance of keeping up with Merritt and forcing that fortuitous error. Not drinking goes a long way in a game of inches. Even if it makes you just 1 metre faster over 100 that is a substantial advantage.
ScottWoodward.me
Roar Guru
Col I suggested to a first grader once that drinking should be against the club law for players and he said that you cannot tell players if they can drink or not. Maybe clubs should give them the choice and make it clear the guys that do not drink will always get preference at the selection table in 50/50 situations.
ScottWoodward.me
Roar Guru
Chris Well said. The guys have a small window to consolidate their careers and set them up for a quality life and they elect to put it all a risk, crazy. Ben Cousins keeps rolling in and out of Hospital due to too much drinking.
Col the Bear
Guest
lets just hope the boys are starting to see the way and stick to the self imposed no booze policy; this should be across the board...yes it sure is a way on getting one up on the opposing side..good to see Mitch(sorry can't call him mitchell only remember him as Mitch) getting back to form, after watching this boy come through the bears juniors and development squads, and harolds and SG Ball..hoping he could come to his full potential this year... the days of a quick beer before or at half time is well and truly over and in the historic past..(ah the words from a reform drinker) :-)
Chris
Guest
I'm still stunned that professional athletes drink at all - let alone get drunk. Think of all the hours of running, the weights, push ups all literally pissed up against a wall after a couple of drinks. I know that if my physical capabilities were the key to my career I certainly wouldn't drink. If one club wants to get a massive advantage over the other 15 the simplest thing to do would be introducing a Total Drinking Ban clause into every new contract. Players would be randomly breath tested before training and games and anyone registering anything above 0.02 (anything below that could potentially be caused by Listerine) receives a $10,000 fine and their first and only warning. Anyone over 0.05 has their contract instantly terminated, no ifs and buts. Given that virtually every off field incident over the last two years has been alcohol related I'm actually surprised it isn't a precondition of every NRL contract.
ScottWoodward.me
Roar Guru
Alan, They all may have a drink for Pearce's 21ist but that will be it. Sandow plays backyard footy and he can do good things from time to time but thats not good enough for a 7.
alan nicolea
Guest
Scott Sandow's kicking game was awful at times although he did produce a 40/20 in the second half. I have to feel sorry for Nathan Merritt though. If he scores, the game would have gone down to the wire. I think he must have been shocked when he found Nate Myles hot on his trail. Great start by the chooks and i hope the likes of Carney and company are wrapped up in cotton wool when they go out for a drink.