Sydney Roosters caught up in Brandon Smith drugs investigation

[Vasco]

Nick has been publicly and forceful about his zero tolerance over illicit drug use, won't be a storm in a teacup to him.
Obviously calm reassuring verbal and damage control by the club will displayed, nevertheless any player stupid enough to disregard Nicks edict will be given the butchers sendoff.

You reckon Nick would sack Radley if he's involved?

[HunchoRooster]

I don’t think we’ll be so overt about it and sack anyone immediately, especially someone as high profile as Radley. I wouldn’t be shocked if Radley is “medically retired” or “looking for a new challenge” in 12-18 months though.

[Roosters1908]

How do the Roosters players know he can procure drugs? Is he also the Souths/Melbourne players go to man?
No other player was charged just him, but of course he is innocent.
It’s always someone else’s fault, he just happens to be in the wrong place at the wrong time again.

I think this is the salient point: Brandon Smith is allegedly a supplier, and people who know him seem to know this. So much so, that he was apparently approached by Rads to score during an interstate golfing trip, meaning Cheese’s contacts are not just local. Rads has let himself and the club down, and it will be interesting to see what the fallout will be, but it seems to me the real person of interest is still the guy who was charged with supply, rather than any of the end users. It raises interesting questions about the company Cheese keeps, the debts he owes, who he owes money to, and so on. I also think there might be a lot of other nervous players from other clubs as well right about now; the fact that he was known as a supplier makes it obvious that Rads wasn’t the first player he has supplied. This could get a lot bigger.

But for me, as unsavoury as the supply charge is, the betting with insider knowledge charge is a real problem for the game. Few details have been released about this charge, but on the face of it, it sounds like proper cheating for money. I think that’s a bigger, uglier black eye for the integrity of the game than the supply of a party drug to rugby league players when the game is already rife with it.

[Bates]

I just googled it and it said he officially joined the Vermin May 14, effective IMMEDIATELY. So nine and Chammas are wrong.

Nice work mr.

[Andrew Walker]

Radley and the club would be well advised to say absolutely nothing Unless there is concrete evidence that a drug transaction took place asking about them and actually buying them are two different matters

[roosterproud]

Nice work mr.

19th march was when the story was confirmed cheeseburger signed with souffs

[The Lip]

I can’t believe the club I follow has 7 coke heads in the team.
I also can’t believe that you would get paid up to half a million dollars each year ( and then some for certain players) to play football and risk it all by being a coke head.
They are supposed to be athletes, not drug takers.
It explains the erratic performances.
It explains why Brandon Smith can’t string 2 decent performances in a row.
Call me old school, but FMD.

I don’t think it’s fair to assume all on the trip were wanting Coke to be supplied - the info we have is allegedly Smith was sourcing it for Rads only at this point. I’ve been out plenty of times where two mates were doing coke and the rest of the group were not and by the way nobody gave a shit.

[Lydon]

I was also concerned Radley would be the player named as he and Cheese seemed close when he was at the Club..

Anyway like many have said,without concrete evidence best to stay silent..

[HunchoRooster]

I think this is the salient point: Brandon Smith is allegedly a supplier, and people who know him seem to know this. So much so, that he was apparently approached by Rads to score during an interstate golfing trip, meaning Cheese’s contacts are not just local. Rads has let himself and the club down, and it will be interesting to see what the fallout will be, but it seems to me the real person of interest is still the guy who was charged with supply, rather than any of the end users. It raises interesting questions about the company Cheese keeps, the debts he owes, who he owes money to, and so on. I also think there might be a lot of other nervous players from other clubs as well right about now; the fact that he was known as a supplier makes it obvious that Rads wasn’t the first player he has supplied. This could get a lot bigger.

But for me, as unsavoury as the supply charge is, the betting with insider knowledge charge is a real problem for the game. Few details have been released about this charge, but on the face of it, it sounds like proper cheating for money. I think that’s a bigger, uglier black eye for the integrity of the game than the supply of a party drug to rugby league players when the game is already rife with it.

Very well said. I don’t think anything will come of the drug stuff apart from reputation damage to Radley. Cheese reputation is already rock bottom as it is.

The betting stuff you’d think he’d need at least 12 week suspension if proven true. I don’t think he’s some criminal mastermind I think he’s just a very stupid person making very stupid mistakes.

[Red.]

Radley and the club would be well advised to say absolutely nothing Unless there is concrete evidence that a drug transaction took place asking about them and actually buying them are two different matters

Very well said Mr Walker. I agree 100%.

[Rooster_6]

I said Nicks comments were silly when he made them and he needs to back track.

This will not be the last time our players get caught doing drugs because they are well off, young men in high pressure jobs.. get real.

It's just putting a needless target on the clubs back.

[milanja]

Very well said. I don’t think anything will come of the drug stuff apart from reputation damage to Radley. Cheese reputation is already rock bottom as it is.

The betting stuff you’d think he’d need at least 12 week suspension if proven true. I don’t think he’s some criminal mastermind I think he’s just a very stupid person making very stupid mistakes.

When will the game stop their association with the gambling giants?

it’s much more harmful to the game than alcohol or tobacco sponsorship was in my opinion, it can be manipulated in many ways from team news to live betting options.

[milanja]

I said Nicks comments were silly when he made them and he needs to back track.

This will not be the last time our players get caught doing drugs because they are well off, young men in high pressure jobs.. get real.

It's just putting a needless target on the clubs back.

Good way to get rid of deadwood in a club though.

[HunchoRooster]

When will the game stop their association with the gambling giants?

it’s much more harmful to the game than alcohol or tobacco sponsorship was in my opinion, it can be manipulated in many ways from team news to live betting options.

Absolutely mate. And the crazy thing is it’s not exactly normal practice around the world we’ve just normalised it in Australia. It’s mainly Aus where gambling and sport are so closely linked. As you said team news and lists have the odds on them at the bottom. There are ads, live mid game ads, ex players spruiking the odds, etc.

[Steggles]

If found guilty on either charge, Cheese should be rubbed out of the game permanently. As for Radley, if Uncle Nick wants to maintain/promote any sort of drug free culture at the club, then he really has no choice but to exit Victor regardless of his standing at the club, otherwise the floodgates will open. That will be a sad day.

Given Uncle Nick’s stance on drugs, I still can’t fathom how Cheese ended up at the club given everyone knew about his drug (and gambling) issues.