Re: News: Drugcastle waits nervously as police circle
BRAD WALTER smh.com.au
March 4, 2010
KNIGHTS players will again be quizzed about drug-trafficking allegations that have cost the club two leading forwards following revelations that Chris Houston had repeatedly assured club officials he was not involved.
Despite Newcastle Local Court ordering former prop Danny Wicks to have no contact with Houston as a bail condition when he was arrested on six counts of supply and two of possession on December 16, Knights chief executive Steve Burraston admitted he was ''extremely shocked'' when the 25-year-old fringe Origin representative was charged.
The Knights chief also said he was angry and frustrated, and revealed he had asked Houston several times about the reason he had been named in court - prompting Burraston to declare at the time that he ''had no personal concern with Chris Houston's involvement''.
''I had a couple of discussions with Chris at the time, as I did with several other senior players,'' Burraston said. ''I addressed all of the squad collectively and also staff members as well, so I had a number of discussions with a variety of people.
''I am extremely shocked - in two ways. Firstly, there was no indication to me that he was involved and secondly, Chris Houston - no matter who you talk to at any club and from anywhere in rugby league and even from ours sponsors and members - is regarded as a really nice, genuine guy, so it is a hell of a shock.''
Houston, who had captained the Knights in two matches last season and was 18th man for NSW in Origin III, yesterday followed the same route as Wicks by voluntarily terminating his contract with three seasons to run.
''The club has taken enough hits because of these charges, therefore, I feel obligated to disassociate myself from the club until my matter is resolved,'' Houston said in a statement.
''I hope by resigning and leaving the Knights that these problems will now leave the club and go with me so that my teammates will now be able to focus completely on the 2010 season without distraction, and that the club will remain strong and united. I sincerely hope that all sponsors and supporters remain faithful to this great club and region.''
But Burraston admitted he could not guarantee Houston's departure was the end of the matter and said he would again speak with players - both individually and collectively - when he returned to Newcastle after attending yesterday's NRL launch in Sydney.
''I know that [Knights coach] Rick Stone has addressed them,'' he said. ''I was away in Brisbane [for talks with major sponsor Coal & Allied] and flew down for this today but I will again speak to the players when I am back and try to do that as early as possible.
''Hopefully there are no more [but] I was hoping there would be no more after Danny Wicks, so I'm not going to say that. But I think we are probably getting close to some finality on this matter.
''I have had no direct discussion with the police and nor would I try to. I wouldn't want to interfere in the case in any way. But just knowing the timing of things … the police would have had to gather a lot of information and view their surveillance tapes and all of those sort of things, and knowing that the [court] cases are in the next three to four weeks, it has got to be coming to some conclusion, I would hope.''
Burraston said most sponsors and members had indicated that they would stand by the club.