What a difference a year makes in football. This time last year, Josh Dugan, Blake Ferguson and Sandor Earl were being hailed around the nations capital as the ‘saviours’.
They were to lead the Green Machine to their first premiership since Paul Osborne played the game of his life back in ’96.
Come 2013 Dugan didn’t make the half way mark, Ferguson was lucky to and Sandor Earl is about to be turfed in disgrace.
Of the three, I most feel for Sandor, he is the least talented of the lot and knows it.
At the ripe old age of 23 he has possibly played in his last NRL fixture. His charges predate his time at the Raiders which means he was approximately 21 at the time of his misdemeanours
Don’t get me wrong he has done wrong and deserves to serve his punishment but consider his predicament.
An injury prone 21-year-old fringe player desperately seeking a contract to extend his boyhood dream of a football career.
The drugs he took promote healing allowing players to get back on the paddock sooner.
In the words of Eddie McGuire he ‘deserves to cop his whack’, I just hope he isn’t lost to the game completely.
NRL chief David Smith said it best ‘we have to remember we’re dealing with a human being’ and human beings make mistakes. Name a 20 something who hasn’t, His main weakness may have been wanting it too much.
Compare this to tweedle dumb and tweedle dumber in Duges and Fergo who flagrantly disregarded their board, their team mates and their fans time and again this season thumbing their noses up the Hume Highway.
Since instagramming themselves knocking off a couple lolly waters on a windy Canberra day they have literally taunted the Raiders board into sacking them.
Holding them to ransom knowing the difficulty the men in green have in player retention. Sadly Canberra lacks the bright lights that attracts Gen Y like moths to the flame.
The real victims are the Canberra Raiders football club who once again have spent resources in time and finance developing talent only to have it picked off by another Sydney club and very little support from the NRL.
It must be draining and frustrating.
To make matters worse, their brightest star of the season, Tony Milford, is looking to head north also, it would be a tragedy for the club.
No one begrudges a player leaving on genuine personal grounds but in a day an age where contracts are not worth the paper they’re written on it sets a dangerous precedent for someone looking for a hassle free get out clause.
Sleiman Azizi
Roar Guru
Within the moral world of sports, drugs are the ultimate blinkers. I don't condone them per se but I think they are the non-issue of all non-issues. In anycase, Oikee is right, the culture of scapegoating in rugby league is horrible. That's what you get from a culture that has fostered a protect me at all costs mentality.
Dylan
Roar Pro
Good article Wheats. I do feel that Sandor should be punished and punished heavily, yet I feel that banning him for life is too much. Its not going to help him in anyway as far as his life is concerned. Where will he go from there? Maybe into more drugs? The NRL should stand by there players and work harder at hehabilitation them. Sandor did the wrong thing yes but IMO other players have done much more only to come back and be rewarded. Barba is the perfect example. His issues seen him sidelined at the start of the year. It also saw his partner leave him. Yet when he wants to break a contract for reason relating to problems he started its the Bulldogs club and fans that have to pay. Todd Carney was one of the worst embassadors for the games with his public vandalism, wreckless drink driving and pissing on other people. Carney could have killed someone yet all he got was a slap on the wrist and now hes living his dream. I understand the gravity of how bad is was what Sandor has down but when hes looking at a life ban you've got to look at other players and surely whats good for one is good for another. I don't condone what Sandor has done and do what to see him punished, as well as every other player that is involved with this whole incident (even if that means some of my beloved Roosters) but not to the extent that hes facing.
up in the north
Guest
When this drugs imbroglio began, I remember saying that if players are made to be the focal point for blame it would be unfair. Now look where we are! These kids are trying to live up to expectations placed on them by us- the footballing audience. So in a way we all should share the blame.
oikee
Guest
I just apoligised to the pest above on the other blog. But yes, i really think making Sandor our scapegoat is not a good look. Sometimes i think,,,,, no wonder players want to leave our code. Are we really doing enough to promote them, look after them, and not protect them,,,,,,, but stand by them if they get into trouble. Punish them yes, but at least give them two chances, and not 4 or 5 like some players get only to kick sand in our face anyhow. Paul Kent mentioned the other day we needs smarts in our code, a person who is clever, can understand our problems, and make changes while being compassionate. Anyhow, if you can find that guy, let me know, he is worth his weight in gold, Gold i tell ya,.
Pest
Guest
There not pearls ,,, but marbles
maximillian
Guest
I think this is a great idea Oikee. You know when you stop bagging the game & dissing Manly, you have some genuine pearls of wisdom? :)
oikee
Guest
You posted this a bit late, if i knew you had this i would have posted this here, anyhow i will post it here as well as the Asada story across the road. You know what i would do with Sandor Earl. I would turn him into a NRL underpants model and sell NRL underware. From all clubs with him as the model. He can promote the dangers of drugs, and bring some good outta all this drugs outcome. I mean what are we going to do, just leave him hanging high and dry like a scapegoat for our code to say look, look at what we do to drug takers. No we should put him to good use. Let us not forget others, Wendal Sailor, Lotti Tuquiri, we did not hang them out to dry, why should we not support Sandor Earl, or is he just a good excuse for our code to feel good about themselves, and blame Gallop because it was under his watch. No, i would talk to Earl, and make him the poster boy for our code and the dangers of taking Drugs. Who are we, the judges, the jury, or are we truely the code that cares, that gives second chances. We should at the very least be a two strike code. Two strikes your out. Weahter that be a year or whatever, but at the moment too many players have too many chances, and how many has sandor Earl had. ???? He is not some hardened Criminal, he is a player who made a mistake and got caught.
up in the north
Guest
I feel for Sandor Earl too. The same as I would for any young man, who has made a poor choice and now will spend the rest of his life having to live with it. People need to consider why he did what he did, and not just persecute him for doing something foolish.