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[Defence]

NRL target tests Roosters players for illicit substances following bogus social media claims
Andrew WebsterMay 22, 2024 — 3.56pm
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The NRL target tested four of the Roosters players falsely accused on social media of taking illicit substances the night before their Magic Round clash with Cronulla.

Which immediately begs the question: why?

Why is the NRL reacting to grossly inaccurate scuttlebutt on Twitter?

Why isn’t it backing its players instead of cocking a suspicious eyebrow while asking them to submit a urine sample?

“It’s an abhorrent abuse of power,” Rugby League Players Association boss Clint Newton said. “The players opt into this policy. If this is the way it’s going to be rolled out, we’ll have a serious think about blowing it up. This is not the way it is intended to be used.”

A quick recap for those playing at home …

On Friday night, prop Terrell May live-streamed an event on a platform called Twitch alongside teammates Brandon Smith, Spencer Leniu, Zach Dockar-Clay, and Naufahu Whyte.

They were giving away jerseys, boots and caps to fans, giggling all the while. It was good, clean wholesome fun the night before the match of Magic Round against the Sharkies.

By Monday, a small clip taken from the 89-minute live-stream had made its way onto social media, allegedly proving the players had taken illicit substances, presumably cocaine.

Like most of the theories floated on social media, it was BS.

Because one player had rubbed his nose and another licked his lips, the mob was convinced they were doing something untoward.

One reporter didn’t help when he suggested on Twitter that a “video of a big-name player doing some white powder is about to go viral”.

I gave up on social media long ago. When the video made its way into the mainstream media, I checked it out ...

There was no white powder. No reenactment of the final scenes from Scarface. It didn’t even show players in a mind-altered state. You didn’t have to be a DCM nightclub regular in the late 1990s to conclude they were as sober as Wayne Bennett at church on Sunday.

Understandably, the Roosters were furious about the whole thing, prompting them to take the extraordinary step of issuing a lengthy media release smacking down the bogus accusations.

“The clip reveals no use of illicit substances or any other breach of NRL rules,” the statement said, adding the club’s lawyers were scouring the internet for “defamatory statements” and that “legal action” would be pursued.

Imagine the club’s surprise, then, when NRL drug testers lobbed at training at Moore Park on Tuesday to target test four of the players in the video.

The Roosters declined to comment, but numerous well-placed sources at the club speaking on condition of anonymity in order to comment freely confirmed the players in the video were singled out for testing.

‘Like most of the theories floated on social media, it was BS.’

The NRL’s illicit drugs policy is separate to the WADA code, which tests for performance-enhancing drugs on game day and can result in a four-year ban.

Players can be target tested, according to the NRL, if it has information the player may have been using drugs, although it depends on the time of year.

In 2021, Smith and then Melbourne Storm teammates Cameron Munster and Chris Lewis were each suspended for one match and fined a total of $49,000 after a video emerged of the three players in a hotel room with a white substance on the table.

Storm boss Justin Rodski confirmed at the time that the trio wasn’t tested because the incident occurred out of season, if only by a few days.

In 2022, Newcastle Knights players Kalyn Ponga and Kurt Mann were target-tested after video emerged of them leaving a toilet cubicle together in a Newcastle pub.

The results are confidential.

Last September, North Queensland star Valentine Holmes was suspended for one match and fined $25,000 for posting on Instagram a selfie of himself with a bag containing white powder.

Because the incident happened while he was on annual leave, he could not be target-tested as per the collective bargaining agreement.

More recently, Sharks players were target tested three days after five-eighth Braydon Trindall allegedly failed roadside illicit drugs and alcohol tests the morning after their round-seven win over North Queensland.

The NRL, which also declined to comment, uses an independent pathology laboratory to do its testing. It has no say in who or when clubs are targeted. It’s done at arm’s length.

Its policy also states that it “should be impossible for an individual player to know how many tests he may face” and “the timing of each testing session varies so that there will be no pattern discernible to the players as to when tests will take place”.

Nevertheless, Newton wants clarification about when target testing is allowed.

“Someone at the NRL needs to explain what the threshold of a target test is because that’s what this was,” he said. “Anyone who says different may as well change their name to Pinocchio.”

If Pinocchio were an NRL player, he’d be target-tested every week.

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Is this satire? I don’t really care but they were dead set off their heads- whoever wrote that must’ve lived a sheltered life (or been paid off by uncle nick..)

 

[Christchurch_Warrior]

Is this satire? I don’t really care but they were dead set off their heads- whoever wrote that must’ve lived a sheltered life (or been paid off by uncle nick..)

Also there is history with Brandon Smith and white substances.

 

[jonesy101]

Those comments about Pinocchio from the RLPA come across as a bit juvenile and don't help with their argument. There is a valid point about testing based on speculative posts to social media, but the counter to that is if you have nothing to hide and its infrequent then its really not that big a deal is it?

 

[Dantheman]

Is this satire? I don’t really care but they were dead set off their heads- whoever wrote that must’ve lived a sheltered life (or been paid off by uncle nick..)

I can't believe he tried to claim they were obviously sober .

 

[Boats n Hoes]

It was good, clean wholesome fun the night before the match of Magic

The part where they start cracking up over some fan losing their mum was quite wholesome wasnt it.

Who the fuck know what was going on but give me cleanskins like Simon Mannering and SJ any day. Long fucking careers and not one hint of shenanigans off it, its all about family and footy. I got so much more respect for those sort of blokes.

 

[j_p]

I can't believe he tried to claim they were obviously sober .

Pretty sure coke only shows up in piss test for about 2-4 days. Video was from Friday, test was Tuesday. He's taking advantage of that fact to hammer the NRL and avoid players getting caught in the future in case they get tested sooner.

Like Jonesy mentioned above, if you have nothing to hide why the big fuss.

Personally I don't care what anyone does in their free time if its not hurting anyone else, and ain't a saint myself but if us peasants require clean drug tests for our employment then so should they lol.

 

[Dantheman]

Pretty sure coke only shows up in piss test for about 2-4 days. Video was from Friday, test was Tuesday. He's taking advantage of that fact to hammer the NRL and avoid players getting caught in the future in case they get tested sooner.

Like Jonesy mentioned above, if you have nothing to hide why the big fuss.

Personally I don't care what anyone does in their free time if its not hurting anyone else and ain't a saint myself but if us peasants require clean drug tests for our employment then so should they lol.

Yea, there's doing things in your spare time (been there and done that) but then there is broadcasting it across social media when you are supposed to be athletes that young people look up to haha. Not a single brain cell to be found between all of them in that video.

 

[Tookey 2.0]

The part where they start cracking up over some fan losing their mum was quite wholesome wasnt it.

Who the fuck know what was going on but give me cleanskins like Simon Mannering and SJ any day. Long fucking careers and not one hint of shenanigans off it, its all about family and footy. I got so much more respect for those sort of blokes.

Pfft You're fooling no one mate...

You're telling me there was no shenanigans with these boats and these hoes you speak of?

 

[Boats n Hoes]

Pfft You're fooling no one mate...

You're telling me there was no shenanigans with these boats and these hoes you speak of?

I was a basically a choirboy mate

 

[Noitall]

An NRL club is unwittingly caught in the crosshairs of a Queensland police investigation following a cocaine bust at a Suncorp corporate suite during Magic Round.

The NRL’s record-breaking Magic Round has been rocked by a drugs scandal involving a dramatic Suncorp Stadium arrest. Sport Confidential can reveal the Canterbury Bulldogs have become unwittingly caught in the crosshairs of a Queensland police investigation following a cocaine bust in a Suncorp corporate suite last Friday night.

It is understood the person in possession of a bag of cocaine was a guest of a Bulldogs sponsor, who had outlaid $10,000 for an official NRL Magic Round corporate package.

Queensland police confirmed a 37-year-old man was arrested at Suncorp Stadium, prompting the entire corporate suite to be evicted immediately in the dying stages of the opening Canterbury-Canberra clash.

“A 37-year-old man was arrested at the NRL Magic Round on Friday, May 17, 2024 for alleged drug possession,” a police spokesperson said.

The NRL integrity unit has been made aware of the cocaine incident.

A record 149,196 fans attended Magic Round to watch eight games of NRL action, but the opening night was marred by a drug-related drama that prompted a Queensland police raid.

It can be revealed a Canterbury sponsor, believed to be a lower-tier corporate supporter, purchased a suite on the sixth level on the eastern side of Suncorp Stadium.

The Bulldogs sponsor duly invited a number of guests to enjoy the Magic Round festivities, including the 37-year-old man, who is alleged to have smuggled cocaine into the Suncorp Stadium precinct.

It is understood Suncorp staffers detected suspicious behaviour in the suite, prompting a call to stadium security.

Queensland police sniffer dogs were sent in and uncovered a bag of cocaine, with officers ejecting the Canterbury sponsor and his party of guests from the suite immediately.

The Bulldogs sponsor protested his innocence with police, insisting he was not the person in possession of drugs, but officers insisted on clearing out the corporate suite.

Canterbury CEO Aaron Warburton was notified of the incident and has been in dialogue with the NRL.

There is no suggestion the Canterbury sponsor, nor the Bulldogs club, is guilty of any wrongdoing or faces any sanctions from the NRL.

“The Bulldogs have been made aware of an alleged incident involving a guest of a guest in a private suite at Magic Round,” Warburton said.

“We understand that the matter in question was referred to the Queensland police.

“It is important to note that the incident did not involve an employee or registered official.

“The Bulldogs will fully co-operate with relevant authorities should they wish to review the matter further and remind all patrons to abide by stadium policies in line with the values of our game.”

Suncorp Stadium boss Alan Graham confirmed he was aware of the matter.

“There was an incident, but I can’t comment any further as it is now in the hands of Queensland police,” he said.

 

[Akkerz]

No wonder they call it Magic Round

 

[snake77]

This thread was quite quiet up until the last few weeks. It all started with someone playing pro wrestler and getting Irish whipped into a tree.

I can't remember which industry the quote was for but it was along the lines of if you get all of these guys in one place this is what happens. Magic Round is looking like that.

Besides the issue in the hotel room between the Broncos and Panthers following the Leniu/Mam incident, we got through Vegas pretty much without an issue.

 

[marv.]

Stuff

www.stuff.co.nz

 

[defensivebomb]

anyone know what our best player did?

 

[marv.]

anyone know what our best player did?

something cookie related i’ll bet.

 

[Rick O’Shay]

Obviously not a happy camper or needed some specialist medical help

 

[defensivebomb]

Don't forget to update your tips!

 

[snake77]

I liked it better when he was getting removed due to an injury. That seems a bit more normal than missing the team song.

That is what the article referred to.
The star prop wasn’t present for the post-match team address or the team song, Webster confirmed.
“This doesn’t meet our standards and Addin accepts full responsibility for his behaviour,” Webster said.

 

[Wellington Warrior]

Jackass…


View: https://x.com/ticsvitsjacthic/status/1795357418798694806?s=61&t=50ArLwWOJBu-_7kCosaYbg

 

[wizard of Tauranga]

I love seeing this thread pop up again.

Get to shake our head in wonder at the latest antics from our genius players

In all honesty I’m just glad this thread is rarely about Warriors players.