Canberra are set to be the unlikely beneficiaries of the near conclusion to the 18-month ASADA investigation into the NRL, with the Raiders to face a decimated Sharks in Sunday’s wooden spoon playoff.
The loser of the Remondis Stadium round 24 showdown between the NRL’s last placed teams is likely to end up with rugby league’s most unwanted silverware in 2014.
And Ricky Stuart’s Raiders will face a Sharks side minus inspirational skipper Paul Gallen and fellow back-rower Anthony Tupou after the duo accepted back-dated 12-month bans from ASADA on Friday that will rule them out of football until late November.
Sione Masima, named as 18th man by interim Sharks coach James Shepherd will likely come into the side alongside NSW Cup player Patrice Siolo.
The two other Sharks caught up in the ASADA drama Wade Graham and Nathan Gardner will miss the match with the Raiders due to injury.
Newcastle will be without banned duo Kade Snowden and Jeremy Smith for the Suncorp Stadium clash with Brisbane on Saturday.
Knights coach Wayne Bennett has confirmed Adam Cuthbertson and Joseph Tapine will come into the visitor’s side.
Curtis Rona is the probable inclusion for banned North Queensland centre-three-quarter Matthew Wright for their match with premiership favourites South Sydney at ANZ Stadium on Saturday night.
Also suspended by ASADA, Gold Coast prop Luke Douglas will miss their trip to Kogarah Oval to meet St George Illawarra on Sunday.
Titans playmaker Albert Kelly has also copped a doping ban but he was named to play Queensland Cup.
Douglas’ spot in the Titans side will likely be filled by Tom Kingston, who was named as 18th man by interim coach Neil Henry earlier this week.
mushi
Guest
Also Cedric there was an intention to benefit physically – it would be incredibly difficult to argue persuasively that a whole group of guys repeatedly injected themselves with some form of medication believing it had no physical benefit what so ever and was just some kind of recreational bonding exercise.
mushi
Guest
Cedric there is also the old caveat that ignorance doesn't equal innocence
cedric
Guest
thanks for that. Well I suppose they made the law that way otherwise anyone could just say they didn't know what it was they were taking. It does then put alot of responsibilty on the person. In a criminal court you have to have intent. You would think then the whole Cronulla board should be sacked and the coaching crew as well. Plus the players could sue Cronulla and then ruin the club, but that's not fair on the fans.
Renegade
Roar Guru
Bennett hasn't questioned his return - he stated that the coach is ultimately responsible.... and on what basis would he or anyone else question his return. The NRL and ASADA has investigated this.... Are people suggesting they know more than the people who investigated do?
Liatrevlis
Guest
And when the Raiders lose Ricky will blame the cheer girls cause his are uglier than theirs , Go Sharkies , please put the boot into the raiders and crush rics ego for good
Elma Dudd
Guest
Nothing can save the raiders from the spoon.
Zedman
Guest
I'm thinking as soon as this Asada thing hit the fan eighteen months ago the players concerned would have either known what they had injected,swallowed or rubbed on themselves or would have asked some questions. The one thing that is totally unacceptable is the return to rugby league of Flannagan and the other coaching staff involved in this debacle. Wayne Bennett is the only person to voice some concern over Flannagans return.
eagleJack
Guest
Because the law states that ultimately the athletes are responsible for what goes into their bodies. The law is written that way so that if a player knowingly takes banned substances, they can't turn around and blame a 3rd party when caught. It removes any potential grey area. The Sharks players only found out this week exactly what they had taken. They were duped by the club. But in the eyes of the law they are guilty.
cedric
Guest
I have just read the NRL comment on their site. They say the players were misled by the people they had trust in when these drugs were given. Is there a whole lot more that we don't know, cause who would plead guilty to something they were unaware of. I draw a couple of analagies; They drank gatorade at training unaware it was spiked. ( guilty? ) They wore brand new jerseys the last game unaware they were stolen. ( guilty? ) Is there more that we have missed out on here, cause who would plead guilty to the above and what legal eagle would advise you to? I'm in Auckland so maybe we haven't got the full media disclosure of facts here, if so can you enlighten kiwis and anyone else.