Supercoach Wayne Bennett has laid the blame for the ASADA saga squarely at the feet of his banned Cronulla counterpart Shane Flanagan.
Newcastle mentor Bennett will miss Jeremy Smith and Kade Snowden for the remainder of the NRL season after the duo accepted ASADA bans issued as part of the anti-doping body’s investigation into the Sharks’ supplements program of 2011.
Smith and Snowden were among 10 current NRL players, including NSW skipper Paul Gallen, to accept the bans on Friday.
Bennett said the Sharks players of 2011 had their duty of care breached by Flanagan, whose one-year NRL ban over the 2011 doping program ends in September, and his support staff.
“The buck stops within the group that told them this was okay to do this,” Bennett told reporters at training on Friday.
“I said when this all broke that clubs don’t do drugs en masse, players do not do that.
“You will have individuals that go off and do it but not teams.
“The only way that would happen is if coaches had convinced them or staff had convinced them it was okay and not performance enhancing and that’s the way it has panned out.
“There is no way you can get 15 or 17 guys in any club and you tell them exactly what is in the drug and it is performance enhancing and that they would all agree to be a part of that.
“It just wouldn’t happen in any club in this country in any code.”
Bennett said Smith and Snowden had been assured by Sharks staff that they were not taking banned substances.
“I can tell you they were assured it was to aid recovery and it was not performance enhancing,” he said.
“I’ve worked with those boys for three years, in Jeremy’s case four, and I trust them as much as I would trust anybody .
“It’s disappointing but it will be resolved for them now.
“At least they can move on with nothing hanging over their heads at the end of the next three months.”
hindsight
Guest
systematic rorting Bellamy as coach wasn't held accountable by the NRL, loss of points & premierships don't count he nominates what player A is worth and the club makes an offer just ask Bennett
djcooper
Roar Guru
Whys that hindsight? Bellamy was completely cleared of any wrong doing so I'm not too sure of the point you are trying to make.
hindsight
Guest
couldn't hear Bennett when the Storm were cheating Bellamy should have been suspended for 2 years
Bunny Lord
Guest
When has Bennett ever spoken as much as he has in the last few weeks?
Muzz
Guest
Good old sanctimonious Saint Bennett - Interesting enough it was Bennett that encouraged Boyd not to give the media the time of day and look where that got him. S Mata'utia score's a hat-trick last weekend for the Knights and Bennett doesn't allow him to speak to the local media. Bennett then replies "he doesn't need this bullsh*t yet". wash rinse repeat
MAX
Guest
The righteuos Wayne is right of course. Wayne is a master at creating an advantage. We are about to enter another Bennett- Murdoch era which may test his credibility. The same forensic blow torch given to 3rd party payments, especially those about to be engineered by Wayne up north. He is a 'Ricky 3' players short which will cost plenty. It may be legal but some of us find it just as obnoxious as the drug saga. Full public disclosure is essential to revitalise integrity in RL by simply knowing the truth without parties using confidentiality clauses to weasel out of such obligations.
Dogs Of War
Roar Guru
When the lawyers get involved, the Sharks will face more troubles financially. Unfortunately for the Sharks, this is not the end of their club being in the papers for the wrong reasons, their is a hell of a lot more mileage to go.
Grey nurse shark
Guest
Flanno should probebly go, we need to rebuild , plus i think we should be stripped of the wooden spoon hahahaha up up cronulla
Adam
Guest
I agree with most of what Bennett said except, "The buck stops within the group that told them this was okay to do this," - no the buck stops with the player regardless of who is telling them what And "I can tell you they were assured it was to aid recovery and it was not performance enhancing,” - aiding recovery is performance enhancing. By the way, Bennett says you wouldn't get a whole group do it on mass, so why aren't the entire squad facing the same charges? Did some players not participate? I may have missed this..
Liatrevlis
Guest
The coach is responsible , player welfare is his and the clubs responsibility , further more I can't see how a club can survive after such a huge slap , from a business perspective it's my opinion this club my just collapse , it's a bad time for not just the Sharks but the NRL and all clubs ,