REMEMBER WHEN

Saturday, September 1, 2007

RUGBY league great Tommy Raudonikis said recreational drugs were being widely used by NRL stars and questioned whether administrators were too scared to tackle the issue head-on.

In a passionate attack on the modern game in the wake of Andrew Johns’ stunning admission he had used recreational drugs throughout his 14-year career, Raudonikis said he was “dirty” on the NRL for turning a blind eye to the issue.

Raudonikis, who worked with Johns when he was coach of the

NSW State of Origin side from 1997-98, said he believed NRL officials were aware of drug use among players but were not doing enough to stamp it.

“We used to drink grog and now they take drugs,” said Raudonikis, who played 239 club games, 20 Tests and 24 representative games for NSW during a glittering playing career from 1969 to 1982.

“I know of people who take them (recreational drugs) now and the sources that I’m getting it from, I think they’re spot on.

“Players are on it. You can look at it in the face and do what you like but it’s there.

“The thing I’m dirty on is the NRL aren’t doing anything about it.

“Even (NRL chief executive) David Gallop said today they’d heard these rumours (about Johns) – well why don’t they do something about it and go and get the blokes?

“I’ll ask the question, are they looking after them? Are they scared to do something about it?”

The NRL and all 16 clubs agreed on a new ‘two strikes and you’re out’ drug policy, initiated after the sacking of Mitchell Sargent from the North Queensland Cowboys for testing positive to cocaine in 2006.