marinermick
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Post by marinermick on Aug 30, 2007 13:36:52 GMT 10
Thursday August 30, 11:11 AM
Unknown person placed ecstasy tab: Johns
Australian rugby league great Andrew Johns says the ecstasy tablet he was caught with in London was pushed into a pocket of his jeans at a crowded club by an "unknown" person.
Johns on Thursday confirmed he was issued with a caution for possession of an ecstasy tablet in London on Sunday.
Johns was arrested but not charged by British transport police, who apparently were conducting a routine search at underground railway stations following the annual Notting Hill Carnival, a statement from Johns' management The Fordham Company said.
"Following an interview with police he was told the misdemeanour did not warrant being charged and instead was given an official caution," the statement said.
"Johns said today he recalled an unknown person pushing a tablet into his jeans at a crowded entertainment venue last Sunday - his last day in the United Kingdom following a six weeks overseas holiday."
In the statement, Johns said: "I was having such a good time, seeing it was the last day before I flew home.
"I stupidly forget about the tablet and instead of getting rid of it I left myself in a situation I soon deeply regretted.
"I have been a very foolish person and realise I have brought great disappointment to my family, friends and many people, including lots of youngsters who have looked up to me over the years. It has left a black mark on my reputation which I will work very hard at erasing".
Johns was one of 206 people arrested for drugs possession in London over the British holiday weekend.
A British Transport Police spokeswoman said in a statement late Wednesday night: "A man in his 30s was arrested and cautioned for possession of an ecstasy tablet following a routine police operation at King's Cross underground station at 4.20pm on Sunday, 26th of August."
In Britain a formal, or "simple", caution is not a criminal conviction.
However it is recorded on the police database and may be considered in court if a person is tried for another offence, the UK Home Office says on its website.
"If you are given a simple caution you will be officially warned about the unacceptability of your behaviour, and the likely consequences if you commit any further crimes will be explained to you," the website says.
Johns, who was forced out of the game in April by a recurring neck injury, has been holidaying in Europe and the UK.
He and injured Brisbane Broncos skipper Darren Lockyer were guests at the Challenge Cup final between St Helens and Catalans at Wembley Stadium the day before his arrest.
He had been in London for a few weeks and had accepted an invitation by former Newcastle Knights player Billy Peden to pass on his tactical and kicking knowledge at the Harlequins Rugby League Club.
Johns has also been working with the Wallabies ahead of the World Cup.
Following the caution handed to Johns, Australian Rugby Union boss John O'Neill ruled out any chance of the former Kangaroos captain joining the Wallabies as a coaching consultant during the World Cup in France.
Johns spent time tutoring the Wallabies' kickers before the Australian side upset the All Blacks in Melbourne in June.
Australian coach John Connolly said recently he hoped Johns could work again with the team in France once the former halfback's commentary commitments with the Nine Network were completed after the NRL finals series.
But O'Neill said today the ARU had not entered into any formal arrangement with Johns.
"It wasn't a done deal that he'd be contributing to the team in France," O'Neill said through a spokesman today.
"Given the current circumstances, the Wallabies will continue as is in France."
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marinermick
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Post by marinermick on Aug 30, 2007 13:37:13 GMT 10
someone framed him - what a crock of shit
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Post by Andy on Aug 30, 2007 15:39:55 GMT 10
someone framed him - what a crock of shit It's better than; "My Mum gave them to me". |
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Post by serious14 on Aug 30, 2007 16:03:02 GMT 10
BWAAAAAAAAAAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!
Let's see the Terrorgraph put a positive spin on this one.
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Post by bakery5 on Aug 30, 2007 17:04:15 GMT 10
IMO he was having a good time and thought lets do a E.
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Post by chooky on Aug 30, 2007 19:17:51 GMT 10
Couldn't happen to a nicer prick, suck it. Hahahaha.
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Post by ~Floss~ on Aug 30, 2007 21:48:38 GMT 10
Let's see the Terrorgraph put a positive spin on this one. Watching his confession / explanation right now on the Footy Show is interesting viewing, but i can imagine how league fans (?/media?) may attempt to put a positive spin on it ("brave andrew...") When they throw to a break it looks like a tribute show for a retiring or tragically-killed hero |
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Post by Adz on Aug 30, 2007 21:53:49 GMT 10
heh same I just flicked the telly on to see the footy show version of the Denton/Grinspoon interview
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Post by Andy on Aug 30, 2007 22:11:25 GMT 10
It was actually pretty sad listening to both Andrew and Matthew there IMO.
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Post by Auburn Mariner on Aug 30, 2007 22:38:43 GMT 10
Ah, where exactly in the press statement does he say that he was "framed"? It must be said that the original press statement was at best ambiguous.
However, I have just witnessed a rather extraordinary interview with Andrew Johns and Phil Gould. In the interview, Johns admitted:
*He has been on the eckie for 10-11 years
*He has been treated for depression for 5 years
*He fully intended to take the tablet given to him at the Church
*He sometimes took eckie in season, and played "Russian Roulette" with ASADA
*He was tested 2-3 times a year for 10 years
I thought he was brutally honest, which is encouraging. It was pretty heavy stuff, and his brother and the Chief were close to tears afterwards. Matthew admitted that Andrew had led a "reckless" life and that when he got the phone call about Andrew's arrest, he first thought was that Andrew was dead.
Maybe some good will come out of this. His frank disclosures to Gould were a start.
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Post by bakery5 on Aug 30, 2007 23:13:47 GMT 10
Just another league wanker IMO
Life is a bitch when you get paid a shit load of money to kick a footy
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Post by serious14 on Aug 31, 2007 0:13:54 GMT 10
Having suffered depression myself, I can sympathise with that side of him. Aside from that though, f*ck the idiot. He had a town that WORSHIPPED the very ground he stood on, a bevy of women at his doorstep, all the money he could ever need, and what does the moron do?? Get on the gear...... depression and such is NO EXCUSE for recreational drug use. Ever. *watches the halo over his head shatter irrevocably* Having said that, this has helped my comedy life immensely - first Ben Cousins and the West Coke Eagles, and now this.  P.S. Many a time I've heard stories from friends who used to live on campus at Newcastle University about drunken/high Knights players who would come to the dormitory looking for action....... it's common knowledge that the Knights have gotten away with anything they've wanted to in Newcastle town for years - the similarities to the West Coast Eagles continue to amaze. |
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Post by Pete on Aug 31, 2007 3:11:46 GMT 10
When I saw the newspapers reports and the brief explanation ('someone put them there') all I could think was that this was the Michelle Leslie defence all over again.
Eckie tabs would be one of the drugs of choice for professional sportspeople. If you can stay away from drug testing for only a few days you're probably in the clear as it is a stimulant, and most stimulants don't leave a trace for too long.
I take what Auburn has said above is a correct recollection of the later interview with Gould - I didn't see it.
That being the case, Johns is being an idiot to himself for taking eckies and knowing he can suffer from depression. The big down after those tabs would be murder for someone who might also be depressed at the time.
Admitting you are out of control is the first step to recovery, did he actually say that or was he just going over what he'd been up to all these years without anyone knowing? If he admits there's a problem (the hint that his brother thought he was getting a death call indicates there is a definite one to sort out), then getting it out in public is good for him - the little secret is no longer. But yeah, his halo is well and truly lowered.
If he wants help, he should get the hell out of this part of Australia that knows him too well, and get clean in another place where he's just a patient that needs rehab. Even go overseas for treatment if he has to.
If he doesn't clean up, and he really does suffer from depression, then he's heading along the same lines as the late Peter Jackson.
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marinermick
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Post by marinermick on Aug 31, 2007 8:57:46 GMT 10
P.S. Many a time I've heard stories from friends who used to live on campus at Newcastle University about drunken/high Knights players who would come to the dormitory looking for action....... it's common knowledge that the Knights have gotten away with anything they've wanted to in Newcastle town for years - the similarities to the West Coast Eagles continue to amaze. yeah countless stories daniel johns' battle with arthritis (cough - rehab) was supposedly a result of his involvement with andrew johns and the knights i was witness to andrew johns' escapades on the night of the knights grand final win when working at the newcastle workers club obviously i don't want to post it in a public forum but you can ask me over a beer as for harrogan being close to tears - the big prick can get farked as he is no angel himself in saying all this i am both shocked and glad johns had come out and admitted his errors as pete said, it is the first part of the recovery process |
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Post by northernspirit on Aug 31, 2007 9:19:56 GMT 10
I think it highlights the fact AFL and NRL players think theyre the bees knees, you rarely hear of Union players doing these sorts of things (Wendell Sailor and Lote Tuquiri got bsted for things but theyre old NRL players)... There is also talk of cover ups in AFL, information being withheld about players being tested positive for "recreational drugs"... At the end of the day i think these guys are all meat head boof heads with little to no respect for the kids who look up to them as role models, football is not immune to it either but our players seem to have their heads on their shoulders and not up their asses which is more than can be said for some of these AFL and NRL players. As for Andrew Johns, he can get f***ed... i bet his depression was caused as a side effect of taking XTC, i would know i used to be a DJ and rave party promoter down in Sydney and saw it all the time, XTC has that affect on people and makes them feel 10 foot tall till the next morning when you wake up and feel like one foots in the grave. Thats my 2 cents, take it or leave it Now as for tonight, Fire up farkin!  |
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Post by voice of reason on Aug 31, 2007 9:26:32 GMT 10
Just goes to show that our 'heroes' are nothing more than frail human beings with all the attendant failings and insecurities. Just because they may be good at sport, we seem to idealise their whole being, and then wonder why we are disappointed. Don't think that football or union stars can escape it either.
The higher we build them up, the more brittle become their clay feet!
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Post by serious14 on Aug 31, 2007 10:00:57 GMT 10
obviously i don't want to post it in a public forum but you can ask me over a beer I reckon we could spend all pre game, the game itself, and many post game regaling each other (and everyone else for that matter, this really was no secret) with stories of the Knight's nights on the town...... The new Hungry Jacks value meal, bought to you by Ben Cousins and Goey Johns. No fries, just Coke and Ice (thanks to thesandman for that one). ;D |
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Post by Jesus on Aug 31, 2007 11:43:28 GMT 10
Would be nice if people "came clean" before being forced to by being arrested or caught out.
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Post by curious on Aug 31, 2007 11:55:34 GMT 10
Just goes to show that our 'heroes' are nothing more than frail human beings with all the attendant failings and insecurities. Just because they may be good at sport, we seem to idealise their whole being, and then wonder why we are disappointed. Don't think that football or union stars can escape it either. The higher we build them up, the more brittle become their clay feet! Good to see someone not joining in the pack. The bloke played with him for many years & a close mate for longer. Sheeesh Mick, he hasn't a right to feel for a mate? Well f*** me, I didn't know empathy was exclusive to football. You think Jets players are immune to stupidity? Anyone thats seen Johns out on the town would also see several jets making a goose of themselves in the early hours. One of your favourites has a rep for being no less a fool than Johns, so be carefull, it will come back to bite you when you least expect it. They now have a famous role model to set an example with grog & drug use. The hypocricy coming from the fan of a club that's just signed Jardel is amazing. And this (below) from the guy that represents the jest in 442? "yeah I've been to some of these clubs in London (though not this shithole full of bogans) and no unknown person stuck any pills in my pocket
I had to buy them like everyone else, spending my hard earned cash on the things"No its not immune & will be less so when pay packets, public profiles & media interest are on par with other sportsmen. Anyone that thinks somehow footballers are halo wearing saints with superior intelligence, moral values & ability to resist the temptations of stupidity that come with too much money, too much fame & too much time on their hands, is kidding themself & ignoring the long history of similar behaviour in many European football leagues. I'm betting if the guy was a footballer, the speeches from the pulpit would have far less vigour. A tall poppy provides much more fun. I'll also bet a quid that many putting the boot in, have lived in glass houses themselves. The guy was/is a bloody fool. He has likely gone from a wealthy & rosy future to a big black hole in the time it takes to swallow a tablet. I don't pity him for what he's done, but I do feel for his family who have to cope with the result. In particular his 7 year old son, who will ceratinly have to cope with school mates repeating the type of shit you see on forums, overheard from their own parents. |
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marinermick
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Post by marinermick on Aug 31, 2007 12:51:03 GMT 10
Don't buy what you are saying and you are clouding the issue by bringing up his family and comparing other codes.
Fact is that he is probably the biggest role model in Newcastle and is representing his city and sport, and now a self-confessed drug user and cheat.
And from what I have witnessed and from stories I have heard this is only the tip of the iceberg in regards to his indiscretions. Add Harrogan to that list as well.
It is not tall poppy syndrome. He is involved in criminal activity and influencing impressionable other people with his behaviour and for this I loathe and despise him and it would not matter in what walk of life he comes from.
Just because he has a family and friends it does not mean I loathe him any less. His seven year old son is a side issue and not part of this discussion.
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