The Gold Coast Titans’ troubles have deepened, with former player Ashley Harrison the latest to be arrested over the trouble-plagued NRL club’s drug scandal.
Harrison, 33, was served with a notice to appear on two counts of supplying a dangerous drug while an arrest warrant has been released for a 28-year-old man who is currently overseas.
Harrison is set to appear in Southport Magistrates Court on March 9, the same date current Titans Greg Bird, Dave Taylor and Kalifa Faifai Loa are also scheduled to appear on drug charges.
Former NRL and AFL player and current Queensland Reds star Karmichael Hunt is set to appear in court on March 5 along with Titans Beau Falloon and Jamie Dowling, as well as an unnamed 22-year-old woman.
The 28-year-old man, believed to also be an ex-Titans player, has had a warrant issued on 10 counts of supplying a dangerous drug which will be executed upon his return to Australia.
Queensland’s Crime and Corruption Commission (CCC) said the arrests were most the likely the last that will involve current or former sportspeople.
That will come as a relief to the Brisbane Broncos and AFL’s Gold Coast Suns, who were both rumoured to be in the CCC’s sights.
“The CCC understands a number of organisations and individuals have been the subject of speculation that they are possible targets of this ongoing CCC investigation,” the statement read.
“The CCC has decided it is in the public interest to confirm that based on evidence currently available to the CCC, it does not expect to make any further arrests of current or former sportspeople as a result of its ongoing investigation into the cocaine trafficking syndicate.
“However, consistent with all law enforcement investigations, if new information comes to hand in relation to the syndicate under investigation the CCC may consider further arrests.”
Friday’s revelations come a day after the Titans launched their NRL season on the Gold Coast.
Titans chief executive Graham Annesley confirmed a lawyer had informed him on Friday afternoon that a 33-year-old former employee of the club had been embroiled in the saga.
Annesley said the news had been a bitter blow after expressing his belief earlier in the week the Titans’ involvement in the drugs scandal was at an end.
“Any time the Titans’ name is brought into it is not good,” Annesley told AAP.
Dutski
Guest
Did HArrison play for the Broncs? I knew he had time at the chooks and bunnies.
Trigger
Guest
Al,my point being that alcohol the legal drug causes many more problems than coke yet these guys get nailed to the wall by people ,but guys like Russell Packer who get drunk and bash people then stomp on their head are welcomed back into the NRL. Huge inconsistencies and hypocrisy given that the NRL has a beer company as one of it's main sponsers. Drugs are a big problem Al,what about alcohol ? Also you're very naive if you thinks it's just the titans that snort away it's been going on for years and apparently was also used by the 2007 Kangaroos according to Gordon Tallis who vehemently complained about it at the time. ,I It's rife in the 20-35, age group , ,check out any nightclub in the city or Eastern suburbs I'm not condoning it but destroying half a dozen footballers isn't going to stop the rampant drug culture we have in Australia,I include alcohol in drugs too seeing it is involved in 50% of domestic violence case in Australia it is a major problem as well. I've only become aware of it's widespread use recently myself and was quite shocked by it .
Pot Stirrer
Guest
thats a very nieve rsponse max. I think we all know what happens to produce and smuggle these drus that you think are harmless
pjm
Roar Rookie
What privilege? It's all hard work done by the player.
got to be Joking
Guest
You're kidding mate, I think you are downplaying the privilege of being a professional athlete in the first place. You cant have everything, there are different rules if you are going to be in that exclusive part of the population
Professor Rosseforp
Guest
The biggest crisis for me is that newsreaders keep talking about a crisis in the "tyduns" and it takes me a while to figure out who or what the tyduns are. Young elite sportspersons with a lot of money indulging in risky behaviour is hardly surprising, and barely newsworthy -- apart from alleged criminality in this case.
Birdy
Guest
I hope DCE goes to the titans. Good for him , good for the club , great for the fans. Money asside , titans could offer him security with NRL guarantee. , the promise of recruiting a team around him, living home in Queensland.. The club and the fans they will get what they have waited for, a star player with further recruits willing to join him, and a more than better chance of watching their team win each week . A march to the finals and further . Can the NRL see this ? Will they help it happen? Am I just convincing myself to finally dump Balmain's JV and become a titans member and supporter?hell I've lived here long enough. Will I wear my Balmain jumper to the game next week or steal my sons titans jumper for the night . Or maybe I shouldn't play with my phone when I've had a few drinks. Ha ha Either way I'll take the positive, it's all go for the Titans , the Broncos are already looking over their shoulders!
Squidward
Roar Rookie
Hahaha. Gold
AL
Guest
Spot on The eye, These poor rxcuses, from the CEO of RL as well of "its a society issue" is not good enough. And to say "so what" to drug use is why it seems to be at epidemic proportions. Trigger, drugs of any sort leads to addiction for many and other social problems for many. Ask families who have lost someone to drugs. But no problem right everyone does it so it must be ok for RL players to do it. So if everyone jumped off the Harbour Bridge the Titans would follow?
Trigger
Guest
What about zero tolerance on pissed idiots as well gents . It's not an excuse to say it's a social problem ,it's the truth ,it is an epidemic in society. Why do these guys get hung out to dry but people in society don't ? Bluebag ,you say 4 years suspension,what do you recommend for someone like Packer who stomps on someones head when he's off his face on grog ? 4 years ?? or a lifetime ban ,I'd be more upset about someone becoming violent and assaulting someone rather than a few footballers having some coke at a party. Just wonder if it's being looked at in perspective,also the hypocrisy of our Australian culture where th NRL's biggest sponsers are beer companies and alcohol is involved in 50% of domestic violence cases . yet getting wiped on a legal drug is all good Same for you Renegade,what do you think about the rumours of the cocaine culture in the kangaroo team from 2007,Gordon Tallis was filthy on it and it was being done by elite kangaroo players. Doesn't make it right or wrong taking coke but really open your eyes boys,it's not just happening at the titans ,it's in all the clubs as it is in every nightclub in the country as is alcohol,but gee alcohol is just fine isn't it.
pjm
Roar Rookie
Sheep will be sheep.
ferret
Guest
@ Trigger - Spot on.
Kirk
Guest
at least Harrison is retired and Michaels spends most of his time in QLD cup anyway
Renegade
Roar Guru
Yeah well put and I agree.... the "it happens everywhere" excuse is weak as p***.
Bluebag
Guest
If Steve Michaels was true to form he would have sneezed all over the coke and fluffed it..
The eye
Guest
Agree whole heartedly with Big Mal on this..zero tolerance..no whimpy BS about it being a social problem..when cut and dried its an individual choice..make excuses for it and youll have an epidemic..4 years expulsion minimum..
Trigger
Guest
Big deal they had some coke and supplied it to each other. I'd say that coke use is rife in the NRL as it is in society. I don't condone it but I can understand why players would do it. Had to see players whole careers and reputations wiped because of this. What about people that go get blind drunk every weekend and make total asses of themselves or worse still get violent and bash their wife or stomp on someones head as some of the other footballers have done . 50% of domestic violence is alcohol related. Why is it that players get so condemned for this If it was someone from the general public no one would give a toss and you wouldn't even hear about it
AL
Guest
Please correct me if I am wrong, but are some comments seeing the problem as those "dobbing on" other drug users?????? Is this the main point and not the rife use of illegal drugs that seems to have both hands around the neck of league and aussie rules???
Justthetip
Roar Pro
I agree about suprise at Ash Harrison. But you need a bit of a thrill seeking mentally to play league the way they do. Definitely an adrenaline and natural buzz where the hits are involved. Boxing, mma, big wave surfing, snowboarding all require a certain mentality. I'm suprised so many people are suprised.
AL
Guest
Aucklandlauriie, you like some of the media now are missing the point. You are finding these drug bust as distraction to the sport you love. And again like the drugs issues of cheating Cronulla and Essendon many turn blind eye, nothing to see here move on, let focus on the positives, the game will survive blah blah etc. There is obviously a cultural issue in NRL and AFL that is rotten on the inside and shiny on the outside. One has to ask the question how long before the rot spread and brings down these games. Who would want to be part of this culture. Anyone who gives apologies for the drugs scandles that have engulfed league and aussie rules would be the same type who sympathise for Lance Armstrong. PS - Any type of drug supply should involve jail time.