Joey Johns a long-time drug user

Hunter · 31-08-2007, 01:48 PM

Hmm I wonder if this explains his 'performance' over the past 10 years

Joey Johns tells the footy show about his drug problem

Quote:

ndrew Johns admits long years of drug abuse

By staff writers and AAP

August 31, 2007 12:00am
Article from: NEWS.com.au

RUGBY league legend Andrew Johns says taking drugs when he was playing Friday night matches gave him a better chance of avoiding the NRL’s drug-testers.

After news broke yesterday that the former international was caught in London with an ecstasy tablet in his pocket, Johns has revealed he was in the grip of drugs and alcohol throughout his whole playing career and was battling depression.

In an interview on the Nine Network's The Footy Show, Johns said he played the biggest games in his career with the thought of taking drugs racing through his mind and how he would play Russian roulette with drug testers.

"Probably 10 years I've taken it on and off," he said.

“People probably ask, ‘how do you avoid the drug tests?

"Well you play on a Friday night and don't train on a Saturday or Sunday, then generally it's out (of your system) by Monday."

“You go out on a Friday night after the game, hammer yourself and wake up not knowing where you’ve been for two or three days.”

irlewy86 · 31-08-2007, 02:30 PM

Its been fairly well known among the rugby circles that one of Joey's injuries was just the clubs cover up for a drug related suspension.

||| · 31-08-2007, 02:38 PM

another newcastle drug user. that club keeps churning them out

uranium_death · 31-08-2007, 02:49 PM

Unfortunate, but he is human and due to it being recreational, the only person he was screwing was himself. Like Ben Cousins, I wish him best of luck in his recovery and I hope people do not think less of him as a person for it.

We all have frailties. We're human.

Interceptor · 31-08-2007, 03:23 PM

wow

a professional sportsman and a public figure...... taking drugs.....

next topic please?

Riksta · 31-08-2007, 03:29 PM

I'd never heard of him

uranium_death · 31-08-2007, 03:34 PM

His brother, Matthew Johns is one of the hosts of the NRL Footy Show (in QLD and NSW) at 9:30 on a Thursday.

Marlene · 31-08-2007, 03:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by irlewy86

Its been fairly well known among the rugby circles that one of Joey's injuries was just the clubs cover up for a drug related suspension.

Are you shitting me? Where did you here this?

Bucket · 31-08-2007, 03:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marlene

Are you shitting me? Where did you here this?

Wowsers...thats big news

nugget378 · 31-08-2007, 04:14 PM

Kind of makes a mockery of the drug testing regime in the ARL.
especially when its one of the big stars.

irlewy86 · 31-08-2007, 04:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marlene

Are you shitting me? Where did you here this?

I know people in very low places. :evil3:

Marlene · 31-08-2007, 04:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by irlewy86

I know people in very low places. :evil3:

Oh ok then.

red_hotxr6 · 31-08-2007, 04:51 PM

How in God,s name did this man go all of his career as a druggie and alcoholic and not get caught, when they do all these drug tests. Did someone turn a blind eye, because of who he was. Lote tuquiri or Wendell Sailor only have to look like they are going out on the town and the newspapers have them head lined the next morning as binge drinkers..

irlewy86 · 31-08-2007, 04:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by red_hotxr6

How in God,s name did this man go all of his career as a druggie and alcoholic and not get caught, when they do all these drug tests. Did someone turn a blind eye, because of who he was. Lote tuquiri or Wendell Sailor only have to look like they are going out on the town and the newspapers have them head lined the next morning as binge drinkers..

Newcastle is pretty close knit.

uranium_death · 31-08-2007, 05:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by red_hotxr6

How in God,s name did this man go all of his career as a druggie and alcoholic and not get caught, when they do all these drug tests. Did someone turn a blind eye, because of who he was. Lote tuquiri or Wendell Sailor only have to look like they are going out on the town and the newspapers have them head lined the next morning as binge drinkers..

Andrew Johns took drugs based around his game. He would never take drugs before a game...only after...

Also, I do not believe that NRL players are tested or can be cranked for illicit drugs. The AFL is the only sport I think (or one of two -correct me if required) which has voluntarily developed its own drug code for both performance-enhancing and illicit drugs. Most sports only have performance enhancing drug testing.

The NRL will certainly step things up now because to have possibly the greatest ARL/NRL/Super League player ever confirm that he was swallowing concrete over 10-14 years is just a bombshell and a bad image for the game.

Pik0 · 31-08-2007, 05:14 PM

I work in Kings Cross as a bartender and its amazing what you see there. You regulary see football players (eg Mason, Sonny Bill NB: not generalizing bulldogs or any other club just 2 that come to mind) drinking and sometime pop. Its nothing new.

Johns got tested 17 times in his whole career, pretty good odds on not getting caught.

Rodp · 31-08-2007, 05:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by uranium_death

Also, I do not believe that NRL players are tested or can be cranked for illicit drugs.

Yes they are, unsure of the penalties though.

Johns apparently used to take the risk of popping something on a Fri night after a game and sitting out of training for 2 days, enough time for the drug to be largely undetectable.

It's not ideal but personally I don't think it's that big a deal that he was popping X from time to time, and the hardest drug I do is beer.

xbcool · 31-08-2007, 05:24 PM

I've heard many stories about this bloke over the years (drug related) and didn't want to believe that a footy player of his standing in the game was willing to take the chance at not only tarnishing his name but also the game.
but now he steps forward with the truth AFTER he was caught , not only has he shamed himself and the club that possibly new about his drug problem he has also upset my young bloke who has looked up to him ever since he was old enough to understand the great game of rugby league.SHAME SHAME SHAME

:

wonder if he will still be made an immortal? ( may need to poll this one)

Black F6 · 31-08-2007, 05:26 PM

The bloke is only human, he would have never played on it.

The only person he would of been harming is himself.

And the amount of times he would of used "in season" would have been very minimal.

I think you would be suprised how many of them use drugs, just because their famous and footballers, they don't take drugs, like the rest of the community?????

xbcool · 31-08-2007, 05:28 PM

Rodp I want my 5 seconds back.
thats how long I spent wiping you bug (avatar ) off my pc screen

:

rodderz · 31-08-2007, 05:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by irlewy86

Its been fairly well known among the rugby circles that one of Joey's injuries was just the clubs cover up for a drug related suspension.

There was also talk of his retirement being from personal problems rather or drugs than the neck injury to which his reason was in the press release

He's only human but to take it his whole career is pretty bad and ignorant. He was looked at being the best rugby league player ever and had this hanging over his head all along.

I stayed up to watch the NRL footy show after the AFL one and the rest of the guys were visibly upset by the news, his brother Matty John's particularly seemed angry, upset and hurt by it

**ebxr8240** · 31-08-2007, 05:44 PM

Depression!!!... Leave him alone...
I'm no Newy supporter either...

Hunter · 31-08-2007, 05:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ebxr8240

Depression!!!... Leave him alone...
I'm no Newy supporter either...

I'd be depressed too if I had to play for Newcastle

:

xbgs351 · 31-08-2007, 06:03 PM

Who really cares if a sportmen takes recreational drugs? They sure as hell don't help athletic performance, so why test for them anyway? If the governing football bodies didn't test for recreational drugs, they wouldn't have to worry about publishing the results.

irlewy86 · 31-08-2007, 06:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xbgs351

Who really cares if a sportmen takes recreational drugs? They sure as hell don't help athletic performance, so why test for them anyway? If the governing football bodies didn't test for recreational drugs, they wouldn't have to worry about publishing the results.

Why should common criminals be put on a pedestal because they have athletic ability. I get drug tested up 6 times a year for my job. Why should they be exempt. Of course if I had my way all politicians would be subject to drug testing as well.

Bax · 31-08-2007, 06:17 PM

Good point.

I guess the only problem is, that at the end of the day, they are only football players, they're not above the law. And drugs are illegal.

The fact that they are role models to thousands of young people, and young in the mind football players (sorry not all of them) will copy their actions.

SNB05T · 31-08-2007, 06:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marlene

Are you shitting me? Where did you here this?

just ask anyone who lives or has lived in newcastle. mcdougal, o'davis, even half of the super league team they had were busted taking drugs!

:

i remember going to the newcastle workies with a mate of mine who played for knights reserve grade team, joey and all his drug f$#^ed up mates trying to hit on anything that moved and calling any girl that knocked them back slu$ts.
he tried to hit on my mates wife, instead my mate knocked joey out (my mate was a front rower, 125kg and 6"3 at the time and is now a bouncer in newcastle).

all i can say is suck sh!t joey you should be locked up dick

:

Rodp · 31-08-2007, 06:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xbcool

Rodp I want my 5 seconds back.
thats how long I spent wiping you bug (avatar ) off my pc screen

:

I feel your pain. I use a 40" screen on my PC and spent 15 seconds and it cracked me up. :P

kremmen · 31-08-2007, 08:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nugget378

Kind of makes a mockery of the drug testing regime in the ARL.
especially when its one of the big stars.

Yeah the coz all the other codes have such clean slates.

The inhouse drug testing is strict and he probably would have been nabbed, but do you think a club (ie Brisbane, Newcastle) will reveal to the media that their STAR PLAYER is using drugs. your kidding. I played with some of the big names in footy and lets just say their have been many dark clouds.

The media is the only thing worse now, not the amount of drug use.

Bucket · 31-08-2007, 08:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dan b

just ask anyone who lives or has lived in newcastle. mcdougal, o'davis, even half of the super league team they had were busted taking drugs!

:

True...I'm an ex-novocastrian. We all heard the stories...they were a pretty wild bunch.