Sydney Roosters caught up in Brandon Smith drugs investigation

[Rooster_6]

Mate that is vey short sighted you obviously haven’t seen the damage drugs do to people and their family and friends - why do you think they are illegal

You clearly missed the point where I said so long as they're not harming anyone else.

I think it's short sighted to think all drug users are damaging their families, friends or other relationships though.

Personally I have no issues with those who choose to use drugs recreationally and responsibly. In the same way I have no issues with those who choose to gamble or drink alcohol recreationally and responsibly.

Why some of these activities are illegal and some aren't.. I couldn't tell you, it doesn't make sense to me.

[Rooster1908]

You clearly missed the point where I said so long as they're not harming anyone else.

I think it's short sighted to think all drug users are damaging their families, friends or other relationships though.

Personally I have no issues with those who choose to use drugs recreationally and responsibly. In the same way I have no issues with those who choose to gamble or drink alcohol recreationally and responsibly.

Why some of these activities are illegal and some aren't.. I couldn't tell you, it doesn't make sense to me.

You seriously don't know why drugs are illegal .Maybe you should meet some families that drugs have affected badly .Alcohol and gambling aren't much bette

[ism22]

You clearly missed the point where I said so long as they're not harming anyone else.

I think it's short sighted to think all drug users are damaging their families, friends or other relationships though.

Personally I have no issues with those who choose to use drugs recreationally and responsibly. In the same way I have no issues with those who choose to gamble or drink alcohol recreationally and responsibly.

Why some of these activities are illegal and some aren't.. I couldn't tell you, it doesn't make sense to me.

I get your point about responsible use, but this isn’t just about private choices. When you’re part of a professional sporting club, every decision reflects on the team and the brand.

• Professional image: Players using drugs, even 'recreationally', makes the whole club look unprofessional. Sponsors, fans, and junior players are watching, and it damages credibility.
• Performance impact: In elite sport, clubs are chasing 1% improvements everywhere including nutrition, sleep, recovery, psychology...etc. Drugs cut the other way, reducing potential/recovery/resilience/consistency (Cheese was plagued with injuries!) and undermining the investment coaches / teammates are making. Why put yourself behind when others are fighting for every small gain?
• Underworld links: To get drugs, you’re inevitably dealing with criminal supply chains. That drags players into contact with people who are the last thing you’d want near a club or its culture. IMO this is what Uncle Nick's jack of... dodgy farks who don't provide any benefits to the club but seem to just lurk around influencing/feeding off their unnecessary relationship with our players.
• Career/personal risk: We’ve already seen multiple players’ careers unravel after a drug scandal. Once your name is tied to it, the reputation damage can be permanent, even if it was just a 'one-off'. Think Finchy, Watts, LOD, Carter, Gordon, SKD's ex, Fergo, Jennings, Lodge, Tobin, Nikorima...etc. Winning a premiership and leaving the club doesn't relieve us of the risk once they're gone either!
• It exposes you: If you're living a double life then you're exposing yourself to the risk of extortion/manipulation from unsavoury figures. Heck one can even end up in a Hayne-like situation by living a double life (i.e. court finds you innocent but you're still faaarked). IMO if you're a celebrity and you're doing stuff that could lead to a front-page article destroying our chances then it's a sign of disrespect towards the club!
• It's banned: if none of the above matters, the fact is that drugs are banned. Many weeks we struggle to put 13 proper 1st graders on the field. If you're suspended (or injured / otherwise unavailable) due to an off-field issue (before we consider bringing other players into it!) then you're letting your team down. Cam Smith was angry about Cheese and co tarnishing the reputation/culture he'd built. IMO Nick is right to have similar expectations.

So yeah, people can do what they want in private life. But when you wear the club’s jersey and take a $$$ salary from us, it’s not just about you!!! It's about protecting your career, your teammates’ work, and the club’s standing.

[HunchoRooster]

We can all argue the semantics and the issues with drug use in society. I for one am disgusted by the normalised ubiquitous nature of coke in modern Aus, especially amongst young people. I also don’t care if any of our players do cocaine because they are grown men and make their own decisions. Would I judge them a bit, as people yes, but my main judgement will always be on their ability as a footballer and no incident will really impact how I judge someone on field. If Teddy got caught with it, I’d be annoyed and disappointed but wouldn’t care if he continued to play for us and captain us as it’s a rugby league team not a monastery.

At the end of the day, all it’s going to come down to is will Nick P keep his word and turf Victor after this incident.

[caz]

For what it’s worth, Paul Kent (on his podcast) is fairly certain it’s basically a storm in a teacup. Not sure what anybody thinks of Kent, so make of that what you will.

What he said was that Smith essentially told a mate he was starting in their Manly game, when he was named on the extended bench.

Drug stuff apparently a bit less clear. Will be interesting how we perform this week for sure.

to be fair it would be hard for kent to get on a high horse. at least he's not a hypocrite i guess.

maybe there has been some sort of mistake but there's no such thing as a storm in a teacup when a player passes on info to a bookie if the player has benefitted in some way. even seemingly harmless info can be used for blackmail purposes. 'mate, we looked after you when you told us that you were in the 17 and if you don't help us out again we'll spill the beans that you've been helping us.' don't know if that happens in footy but it's been happening in cricket

[player 1]

NRL are just priceless. Run by Vlandys, horse racing and betting tsar.

Not so long ago.......Mitchell Pearce video sold by lowlife slag, depicting him simulating an act that was tasteless but not harmful to anyone. No laws broken. Suspended for 10 games, 100K fine.

Now a player is charged with drug supply and betting charges. NRL stance now is not to stand down player as he hasn't been convicted of anything yet.

Pearce was never even charged with anything, let alone convicted, and the NRL (and the media) rained a shi'tstorm on him.

Please explain.

[Rooster1908]

NRL are just priceless. Run by Vlandys, horse racing and betting tsar.

Not so long ago.......Mitchell Pearce video sold by lowlife slag, depicting him simulating an act that was tasteless but not harmful to anyone. No laws broken. Suspended for 10 games, 100K fine.

Now a player is charged with drug supply and betting charges. NRL stance now is not to stand down player as he hasn't been convicted of anything yet.

Pearce was never even charged with anything, let alone convicted, and the NRL (and the media) rained a shi'tstorm on him.

Please explain.

Can you imagine the crime you would have to commit to be sent to goal for 11 years . Most only get 5 odd years for armed robbery so if you do that you don't get stood down. Its a joke

[caz]

Can you imagine the crime you would have to commit to be sent to goal for 11 years . Most only get 5 odd years for armed robbery so if you do that you don't get stood down. Its a joke

11 years is a weird number. what's also weird is that the maximum penalty for 'cheating at gambling and obtaining financial advantage by deception' is 10 years imprisonment.
maybe it's a coincidence but why was 11 chosen as the magic number?

[player 1]

11 years is a weird number. what's also weird is that the maximum penalty for 'cheating at gambling and obtaining financial advantage by deception' is 10 years imprisonment.
maybe it's a coincidence but why was 11 chosen as the magic number?

Given Vlandys's role and betting pedigree, I doubt it's a coincidence.

[A Country Member]

Just realised that the Bunnies aren’t playing this weekend and his return to footy will be against the Chookies.

If Radley doesn’t get suspended/injured this week, look out!

[Bates]

Comparing the following 2 NRL punishments.

1. Pearce Poodlegate - 8 games suspension with $125k fine
2. Ezra Mam's car collision with a cocktail of drugs in his system including cocaine - 9 games suspension with $120k fine.

This tells me that the NRL marginally value human life over a poodles dignity.

[mightyrooster]

Comparing the following 2 NRL punishments.

1. Pearce Poodlegate - 8 games suspension with $125k fine
2. Ezra Mam's car collision with a cocktail of drugs in his system including cocaine - 9 games suspension with $120k fine.

This tells me that the NRL marginally value human life over a poodles dignity.

You didn’t take into account inflation. Pearcey completely ripped off.

[roostermcgregor]

You can say what you want about coke and responsible and recreational use.
But isn’t this sh#t highly addictive, so instead , in a lot of individuals, the drug controls them, rather than the other way around?
That is good enough reason to avoid it like the plague.
It sounds like Brandon Smith is already an addict.
I was a fan of his , as a footballer, but now I am glad the Roosters got rid of him.

[Steakface]

Comparing the following 2 NRL punishments.

1. Pearce Poodlegate - 8 games suspension with $125k fine
2. Ezra Mam's car collision with a cocktail of drugs in his system including cocaine - 9 games suspension with $120k fine.

This tells me that the NRL marginally value human life over a poodles dignity.

It's not that.

It is that the NRL is corrupt. It has been for donkeys years.

It is currently better than it was (quite a lot better actually) but still not great.

If you've got the right friends in the right places, and the right dealmakers, you'll get a great outcome.

As a queenslandaaar, you're good as gold because that entire state is Rugby League insane, and a loss of top queenzlandaars means less eyeballs which = less money.

In their prime, the likes of Darren Lockyer, Cameron Smith, JT could have assassinated a referee on field with a shotgun, and the NRL would have done some abstract mental gymnastics, claimed they might have tripped over and made a mistake, and they'd line up the next week.

If it was Victor Radley it would be straight to Long Bay.

Even Andrew Johns...if he had not have been stupid enough to get caught with pills in a foreign country, he also would have gotten away with it all. It was going on for years with him and not a peep...until London's tabloids got word from the cops and there was nothing the NRL mafia could do to keep it under wraps.

As for the judiciary it is a circus and has been for yonks. It doesn't even vaguely resemble a real court.

[BEC]

Might explain our inconsistent form this season. Hot one week, duds the next.

Yep The last few seasons actually...