Hooper just explained the NRL 3 Strikes Drug Policy
1) If Court finds him guilty - NRL requires him to complete a drug counselling course
2) If Court finds him guilty - NRL 12 week suspension
3) If Court finds him guilty - NRL contract deemed null and void
Not sure if after strike 3 a player can be then signed by another Club
I may have missed something here but he hasn't tested positive to a banned drug but has been charged with possession so does the NRL drug policy cover that?
Depending on how many pills he allegedly had in his possession and how much cash he had on him the charge can escalate to dealing or trafficking if the cops really want to get narky.
ie if someone has say, 2-4 pills you can argue that it's personal use but if you have more than that then there is a case for dealing, albeit that it's just a group of mates out for good time and he was the idiot carrying them all.
Sandor Earl got busted by AWADA for trafficking when he was just carrying his own concoction to/from Dank wasn't he?
History tells us he's not the only NRL player to go out and have a good time but to walk into a Casino with a bunch of mates ( some of which are known to the authorities) carrying some pills is the epitome of idiocy.
I've got no problems with guys dropping the occasional pinger but they can't plead ignorance as even us fans know their drugs policy.
I'd say right about now he would have been better off failing a drug test than to be caught carrying MDMA caps and muscle relaxants.
I may be reading too much into it but by carrying them it indicates to me that it's not just a once off.
So, surely his punishment from the NRL after the Court hearing has to be more than just doing a counselling course hasn't it?