Source: abc.net.au
National Rugby League boss David Gallop has admitted to being aware of longstanding rumours about Andrew Johns’ drug use, but has backed the Newcastle Knights’ handling of their troubled former captain.
Johns – who was arrested for ecstasy possession in London last Sunday – has revealed he took drugs throughout his playing career and also had an alcohol problem.
This morning Mr Gallop admitted that rumours about Johns’ reckless lifestyle and behavioural issues had "bubbled to the surface" from time to time.
But he said he was happy with how the Knights had handled Johns and said the player had never tested positive for drugs.
"Over the years they have had a number of issues to deal with with him, and they have probably done a fair bit to try and help him," he told ABC Radio’s AM program.
"He’s under acute pressure in a one-team town like that – he was really centre of the universe up there and that created a whole lot of pressures on him."
Johns says he believes the club and his team-mates were aware of his drug problem, and said long-term depression and alcohol abuse contributed to it.
Source: Brent Read, The Australian
IN a faltering voice, but with the same resolution he showed on the football field, rugby league great Andrew Johns last night owned up to a 12-year battle with drugs, alcohol and depression.
The former Newcastle and Australia captain is now fighting to save his reputation after being caught by British police in possession of the party drug ecstasy.
At times Johns struggled with his emotions as he detailed his fight with drugs and alcohol, and how he "played Russian roulette" with drug testers during his entire celebrated career.
"I have lived with it for 10 years," Johns, 33, told the Nine Network’s NRL Footy Show. "I have taken (drugs) on and off, generally during the off-season but there’s times when during the season I’ve run the gauntlet and played Russian roulette and taken it … I think about some of the great times I have had but they have just been damaged because I took drugs. I am so ashamed of it. I destroyed some of the great times of my life."
Johns said he had been diagnosed with depression seven years ago and had been taking medication since.
Source: Dominic Brock,
Sportal
The Newcastle Jets are set to recruit former Socceroo Stephen Laybutt and have continued to bolster their squad with the signing of young striker Jason Hoffman.
Jets coach Gary Van Egmond said both players would improve his squad, with Laybutt’s arrival adding some depth to an injury-struck defence.
Central defenders Andrew Durante and Craig Deans are long term injury concerns for Newcastle, with Durante out for four to six weeks after picking up an injury last weekend and Deans expecting to be ruled out for the season.
Source: Iain Shedden, The Australian
"LAST time we played here, no one liked us very much," joked Silverchair frontman Daniel Johns.
The singer had no such concerns when Silverchair made a triumphant return to their native Newcastle last night.
The Newcastle rockers rarely take second place to anyone, particularly in their home town, but they bowed to age, rather than experience as their older collaborators, Powderfinger, closed the show at the beginning of their joint tour last night.
The crowd of more than 7000 at Newcastle Entertainment Centre was more concerned with the quality of this rare double bill than its running order.
In fact, the Newcastle trio will spend the next nine weeks opening for their Brisbane colleagues on the Across the Great Divide tour, the biggest run of concerts either band has undertaken in Australia.
Source: news.com.au
AUSTRALIAN rugby league great Andrew Johns has confirmed he was issued with a caution for possession of an ecstasy tablet in London last 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."
I
n 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".
Source: Hunter Valley Wine Country Tourism Inc
Tuscany Wine Estate Resort; Pokolbin became a multi award winning hotel at the highly prestigious Hunter Regional Tourism Awards held at Crowne Plaza Hunter Valley Thursday 2nd August 2007. Under the direction of long time Hunter Tourism operator Bill Gregson, Tuscany Wine State Resort; a first time entrant in possibly the most competitive category of the awards night, won the Deluxe Accommodation Award, competing with 6 other hotel finalists, including the Crowne Plaza Newcastle and Hunter Valley Gardens.
Bill, who came to Newcastle in the early 80’s, with the then Southern Pacific Hotel Corporation to open the Parkroyal (now Travelodge) with his wife Christine ( from HMRI & Marketown Shopping Centre fame) own Tuscany, with business partners Mark & Lorraine Edmunds from Nelson Bay. Bill’s Tourism background was further enhanced as the General Manager of the Hunter & Lower North Coast Tourist Authority in the late 80’s (forerunner to today’s HRTO). Then as General Manager of Renak; which developed, owned and operated the Queens Wharf Brewery up until 1994.
Source: Macquarie National News
Kirk Reynoldson has been left out of the Knights team for the round 25 match against Wests Tigers at Telstra Stadium on Friday night.
This means the troubled Knight falls one game short of activating a clause in his contract that would have seen him guaranteed a payment for next season.
A statement released by the club this afternoon said Knights management, Reynoldson and his advisor, Les Ross held a positive meeting on Tuesday at the club’s headquarters.
It was agreed dialog will continue and both parties will work towards a mutually beneficial outcome.
In the meantime, the Tigers will be looking to keep the Allan McMahon Shield in its trophy cabinet with victory over Newcastle at Telstra Stadium on Friday night.
Source: Josh Massoud, The Daily Telegraph
IT appeared harmless enough – a bunch of old mates catching up at the pub for a beer and a feed.
But for embattled Newcastle coach Brian Smith, last night’s gathering of the club’s richest benefactors could turn deadly serious.
Led by golfing great Jack Newton and millionaire media mogul John Singleton, the influential lobby group – known as the White Knights – held a 90-minute crisis meeting at Newcastle wharf’s Brewery Hotel to discuss their future involvement in the club.
Other attendees included former Knights forward leaders Luke Davico and Craig Smith.
Over old-fashioned pub grub and a schooner or three, around 25 members expressed their concerns over Smith’s wholesale player clean-out that has seen a host of local stars released.
For one, Singleton, the group’s patron, is seething after being forced to scrap a beer advertising campaign worth $2 million that featured sacked Knights players.
Article by David Brake
Lake Macquarie residents can recycle their unused mobile phones, batteries and accessories in support of Keep Australia Beautiful Week (27 August – Sunday 2 September).
Council’s Waste Planning and Education Coordinator, David Brake, said Keep Australia Beautiful Week is a great initiative and a good opportunity for residents to begin their spring clean and empty their drawers of old and unwanted mobile phones and hand them in for recycling.
“With nearly 16 million mobile phones stashed away in homes and offices, recycling them is a really simple and easy way to start helping save the planet,” Mr Brake said.
Source: The Age
Perth Glory failed to capitalise on their opportunities and suffered another significant injury blow in their A-League season-opening goalless draw with Newcastle Jets at Members Equity Stadium.
It was a good result for Newcastle, who showed promising signs throughout the game despite losing several stars from last season.
But Perth would be less satisfied, as despite controlling much of the play, they failed to score after creating plenty of goalscoring opportunities.
They have also lost defender David Tarka, who damaged a hamstring in the first half and looks set to join the Glory’s other first-choice centre-back Hayden Foxe for a lengthy stint on the sidelines.
"We won’t know for definite until he has had an MRI scan, but David will be out at least four to six weeks," Glory coach Ron Smith said.
"It’s a pretty bad tear."
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