A prominent former NRL player yesterday spoke with me of the pressure on players and medical staff to “push the envelope” with their training regimes and treatment of injuries.
When asked whether the use of performance enhancing drugs was common practice in rugby league, the player, who asked to remain anonymous, responded, “Man, this is all old news.
“Around high pressure games and with big name players, I know there has been some forms of borderline techniques used that you wouldn’t generally suggest to your average player in the middle of the season,” he said.
“In high pressure situations (like the finals) the injuries are addressed differently. The player obviously wants to play but the person making the injection always makes the call and that’s usually the doctor.”
As a sports journalist, you’d be forgiven for forgiving the NRL because, gosh, they really do give us some good stuff to talk about.
A toilet tryst here, match-fixing there – throw in a Kings Cross shooting – and we almost have our back pages sorted for the season.
Only a few weeks out from the NRL season-opener, a game loved by millions has been dragged well and truly into the mud of what began as an AFL-only drug scandal.
However, before fans rush to judgment, at least one former player has asked they walk a mile in the competitors’ footy boots.
“If a player is being told, ‘If we do this we can get you to play sooner rather than later’, you won’t find any single player asking ‘is it legal?’ or ‘can I see the ingredients?’
“They just want to play and they are going to say ‘yes’. Always,” said the player.
Asked if coaches turn a blind eye to practices that might sail close the wind in terms of legality, the player said, “I think, for most doctors, if they can get that player right, the coach will then see them as a good doc to have on staff.
“You’ve got to remember that not all coaches are educated on what the doc is doing – that’s why they have the doc; they don’t need to be thinking about how a player is being treated, they have a team to train.
“For example, if the physio is not getting players ready in time and they still have niggling injuries, the coach isn’t going to want to re-sign them.
“Whereas, if you have a bloke that’s getting the boys on the paddock as quickly as possible and pulling up well after games, then that doctor is doing a great job.”
Peptides. Supplements. Pigs’ blood. Makes you “more better” in the lingo of current players.
If you play professional rugby league, however, you shouldn’t be doing it. Sadly, that has now been shown to be a fantasy, part of a make-believe world where match-fixing only happens in cricket.
“The physios and doctors are probably under more pressure than the players,” said the former player, who also asked what would any other average 22-year-old do?
No skills other than football – the choice is between a grand final or starting a trade.
“At the end of the day, if someone is told they are going to be out four weeks injured, yet the team could make the grand final in three weeks, what is a player to do?
“I’d do it. It’s your one shot. What are you supposed to do?”
jeznez
Roar Guru
Will is the ACC in charge of this investigation or AAC?
Australian Rules
Guest
I'm not sure I'm as condemnatory as you are on this one. A young player, 20y.o, being told by a senior football dept official to take a supplement, esp when "everyone else is doing it"...it would be rare for such a kid to have the wherewithal to stop and request further scrutiny or guarantees. Most would float along with the current and just *assume* it's all above board. Kyle Reimers is a case in point - as you say, not exactly an intellectual colossus. That said, rules are rules. In all, it's just a very sad story.
Brewski
Guest
Theres a real difference between you and me oiks, i try to stick to facts, i actually attempt that, and never, i repeat never, run down another sport, let alone continually run down other sports, you posts consist of delusion about the sport you follow on a pretty consistent basis, and on a continual basis running down Australian football.
me, I like football
Guest
Crosscoder, from what I can gather, I would be surprised if 5% of those that comment on the AFL's drug policy actually understood it and not just "will someone think of the children" rhetoric that goes with it
me, I like football
Guest
I think the AFL's 3 strikes policy is good, it's about rehabilitating not policing. There was a loop-hole that allowed players not to score a strike against their name by confessing, that has now been closed for the poorer iin my view. By not allowing the players to 'fess up about using drugs then all you do is encourage players to hide from their addiction and not confront it a seek the support they need. The policy has been copied by the governments very own AIS and other insitutions like the NRL that changed it to 2 strikes to show they are tougher on drugs. pft. I guess it's better than the FFA who have no such policy, but they don't get the media scrutiny either
Allanthus
Guest
All that said, if there are coaches and clubs complicit in systematic abuse then this is disgraceful, and they too should cop their full whack. But that's not the same as saying the players should be allowed to hide behind this, because the rules are made very clear to them that they can't.
Allanthus
Guest
AR, absolutely correct, what I heard from Finnis and some others was a lot of bleating on behalf of poor, impressionable young athletes who are intimidated into taking this sort of stuff because they have no choice. Wrong, they are adults and even when I was young and stupid and trying to cement a first grade spot, if my club had told me to inject calves blood or similar I would instantly have known it felt dubious and would have done something further to get it checked out before going anywhere near it. For what its worth Kyle Reimers has stated that the Essendon injections were optional, and they weren't coerced - he doesn't strike me as a Rhodes Scholar so if even he said it seemed a bit suss so he didn't pursue it, then what does that say about the others who did? Finnis is wasting his breath, the rules are clear - as you point out AR, the onus rests with the player to find out what it is he is taking.
oikee
Guest
I tried to edit and ran outta time. Sorry about that, i need to slow down. I also need to pull my head in, sorry mods. Me bad, i know. Tristan, i will not post now for a week.
oikee
Guest
Of course it is open to abuse, they can not give you a strike if you tell them your taking drugs. So 3 strikes can become 4 or even 5 strikes, Baseball gets less.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
The same policy Oikee also did not receive a favourable comment by john fahey(chariman of WADA) on radio this morning .He stated he hd never heard of it elswwhere ,though it may occur.He felt it was open to abuse or words to that effect.
oikee
Guest
Just repeating what coaches Ceo's and other high profile people have already stated on TV today Brewski, take it up with them not me. Maybe cover your eyes you dont want to read it or hear it on the news, stick your head in the sand might help. Nobody takes notice of you either Brewski, you want the truth. Pot Stirrer, I gave up watching foxy 513 for that very reason, but i did notice at 6 this morning when i went to see the latest news on a scandal, they lead with the NRL, the Titans pee in a jamjar story, which we all know now as just five year old pee in a jamjar. Go figure.
Von Neumann
Guest
is it possible for you to make any less sense oikee? good article. the onus needs to rest with all involved. Thats why they are looking into it - but no, its never good enough for some people. Give it time.
Pot Stirrer
Guest
Hey ikee, do u ever watch Fox Sports on 513, They always Favour AFL and lead with AFL storys but when i got home late last night and turned it on, Guess What ? They were talking about the RL side of this scandal first and then crossed to The AFL side of the story. They certainly do get favourable treatment from news outlets imo
Australian Rules
Guest
Allanthus Yes, it's a strict liability offence - ignorance is no excuse. This means proof that players were injecting illegal substances (even unwittingly) should carry a 2 year ban under the WADA code. The next question then becomes: Can the players sue the club? (given it was the club who provided the substance and told the players it was legal). The answer is probably not. For a player to have a case to bring an action against the club for breach of duty, the player must demonstrate that he himself made *reasonable enquiries* to establish the nature of the substance being prescribed to him by the club. Then the question is: What may constitute "reasonable enquiries"? That's where the lawyers make their money. I would suggest that in this instance, given the seriousness of potential consequences in injecting an unknown substance, the standard upon the player would be quite high. In other words, a player should seek proof of the identity of the substance...or... a written guarantee from the club that the substance being injected is what they say it is (and therefore, legal). There are a lot of barristers planning their renovations or next O.S holidays.
Brewski
Guest
Just opened the roar....and oikee and AFL coverups are the first post i read, seriously mate, you have absolutely zero credibility, please go somewhere else with this stream of absolute crap.
oikee
Guest
I dont think any ex-sports player should make comment unless they make themselves known. Gee whiz, any tom richy or harry could make a comment and say idont publish my name. It could be herman the monster making the comment. Also one comment i heard today from a unidentified informent. He said Players get "needled up" all the time. Yes, we all know that you can take a needle to get back onto the field in certain cercomstances, that does not mean it is a illigel drug. Mate this is going to far. Next we will have 6 year olds making comments about jelly beans being distributed at halftime during games. Either make charges against these AFL clubs or go home with your tail between your legs. You want drugs in sport, introduce a 3 strike drug policy with no charge laid if you come forward and admit the crime. Wish we had this in league, our boys could go straight into rock and roll wrestling after they finish footy.
oikee
Guest
All the noise coming out today surgests that all sports are being tarnished and dragged through the mud all because Essendon and AFL got caught out. They have or are the only ones admitted to anything, apart from Orford drinking cows or sheeps blood or some weird stuff he did on a saturday night on the turps. Seriously though, if this turns out to be a AFL cover-up, heads have got to roll. And they will never be forgiven. Never.
sunshine
Guest
Yeah I know of a former player as well and he was found with recreational drugs in his system which the club covered it up, he had to switch clubs out of Canberra though, and then went on to be one of the best forwards in that era. There is too much of this he said she said. i wish they just come out with the findings if they have them. I think the 3 stikes AFL policy is a joke.
planko
Guest
Thanks guys ! I just get very annoyed when you hear about football players that get to the end of their careers and say well now what ? They train seriously for say 25 hours a week tops... Half of which is just crap. The canberra boys have little to no excuses. They "work at bruce". Within walking distance is CIT (NSW people TAFE) and UC (University of Canberra). ANU (Australian National Uni) is about 5 mins drive. Unemployment in Canberra is measured not with percentages but in terms of people that want one and people that dont. Apart from the obvious benefits this gives later in life it also reduces the likely of the players doing stupid things cause their bored.
Damn Straight
Roar Rookie
Yes and no Steve...I think the players must show some due diligence and take some responsibility.