DRUGS THE EXCEPTION, NOT THE RULE

In my 10 years working full-time in the rugby league industry, I have
never been offered drugs or been with people that have been openly
taking recreational drugs.

I want to make that completely clear because I don't want people to
assume that everyone in the sport is taking drugs; that it is a
common occurrence or in any way part of our culture.

As in everyday life, Andrew Johns' choice to take recreational drugs
throughout his career is an individual decision.

If someone wants to harm themselves and it is not
performance-enhancing or cheating then quite frankly, I couldn't care
less. It only reflects on you as a person and harms your life and reputation.

That would be the case with Johns, except that Andrew Johns equals
success and I know that the kids idolise someone like Joey. So I
worry that his revelations will have a huge impact on impressionable
young league players.

Stars like Johns are, whether they like it or not, mentors to junior
players and are expected to do the right thing. This incident will
send entirely the wrong message to kids, and tell their parents that
league will be a bad influence on their children.

I'd assure them that I am being genuinely honest when I say that
while there has always been talk that a lot of players take
recreational drugs, I never saw it happen in my playing career.

With the Kiwi boys at the Warriors you might have a big night out
celebrating, and some of the Australians would say "really, what were
you taking?" and we'd say "nothing".

I know for a fact the Kiwi boys don't do it. People take drugs such
as ecstasy to lose their inhibitions and their shyness, and the
Island boys have never had that in their culture - they can go out
and have a good time and dance without taking anything. Even the ones
who weren't big drinkers could manage to have a great time without
taking anything.

In fact, the only time anyone I played league with was offered drugs
was on a pre-season trip to Portugal when I played with English club
Wakefield. And they didn't know we were league players - it was just
a big group of lads out at a club.

I've been invited to the Warriors' awards dinner at SkyCity next
week. It will be a change to go to my usual place of work and enjoy
it without having someone punch me.

I'd be surprised if fullback Wade McKinnon didn't win player of the year.

He has been the standout all year, providing that extra something
that has made the Warriors so dangerous. That might be a touch unfair
on Steve Price, who has been an outstanding leader - but I am sure he
will win the people's choice award.

It's hard to see who is working behind the scenes, but a clear
favourite for the clubman award would be George Gatis for the way he
plays, the way he conducts himself, and the manner in which he speaks
about the club even though he's leaving.

How do you pick a rookie of the year when the Warriors haven't
actually had any young players make their NRL debut this year (Corey
Lawrie, at 27, hardly counts)?

But, at the age of 20, the impact made by Sam Rapira (who played 10
times in 2006) has been remarkable.