TIGERS DUO ADVISED TO COP IT SWEET

Wests Tigers rugby league officials have asked Craig Field and Kevin
McGuinness to enter an early plea and accept a 12-match drugs ban.

The two players told club officials on Monday that claims their drinks were
spiked at a pre-season function "were bulls---".

Asked about suggestions that Field and McGuinness had claimed their drinks
were spiked, a club official said: "No way in the world are they saying
that and they won't be saying that either. When that was tossed up briefly
they said 'no way, that's bulls---'.

The players may still claim extenuating circumstances as a defence at their
NRL drugs tribunal hearing, which could be held as soon as next week.

The pair have returned positive samples for stimulants, believed to be
cocaine and ecstasy.

It is also believed McGuinness has little recollection of the night - and
that is what he is expected to tell the panel of Sir Laurence Street, Dr
George Peponis and Mr Michael Cleary.

The player's legal team of Mr Bernard Gross, QC, and Mr Keith Bagley were
meeting last night to consider their options.

While they could simply wait for the process to take its course that would
subject the duo and their club to a further month or more of damaging
speculation and innuendo.

The alternatives are:

Forego the right to have their "B" sample tested and seek an immediate
hearing;Wait until the results of the "B" sample are known and then waive a
two week waiting period, in which they can request further tests be done.

An Australian Sports Drugs Agency spokeswoman said it usually took only a
few days for testing to be completed. The players would then be notified
and, if they matched the results of the previously tested "A" sample, 10
working days were set aside to enable submissions to be lodged about the
testing procedure or to request further analysis.

"The players have the right to waive the 'B' sample completely, and/or the
submission period if they wish," she said.

If they plead guilty and can establish to the satisfaction of the NRL drugs
tribunal that there was no performance enhancing benefit gained from taking
banned substances, Field and McGuinness each face 12 match suspensions as
first offenders.

Tigers chief executive Martin Bullock, president John Chalk and Field's
manager Wayne Beavis would not comment publicly on the case yesterday.

But it is understood that all three assured the NRL that neither Field or
McGuinness had ever mentioned the "spiked drinks" defence during
discussions about the case.

The pair tested positive following a Monday morning swoop by ASDA
representatives at training less than 36 hours after Wests Tigers' black
tie season launch at Star City.

Only bottled beer and water was supplied at the function, with the club
providing wine. Later the players went downstairs to the casino, which is
monitored in all areas by security camera.

Initially, Wests management considered terminating the player's contracts -
worth $350,000 per season for Field and $300,000 in McGuinness's case.

But they have now all but ruled that out, considering a 12-week suspension
would cost each player about $100,000.