2019 NIB Knights

Huge if his second test also comes back postitive.
Blessing in disguise for Newcastle though IMO.
700k a year saved for his 5 games.

Might mean we bring Ponga a year earlier now, or we can bring in a good prop. Not that there are any left on the market at this stage of the off season.
Not sure of what other 6's are on the market at the moment, I hope we dont do something silly and bring a bloke like jamie soward in as a stop gap.

2 Words..


Todd Carney

Pieman wrote:2 Words..


Todd Carney

Is Mullen bubbling?

When they said he was going to be the next Andrew Johns I thought it would be football related, not drug related.

Honeysett wrote:When they said he was going to be the next Andrew Johns I thought it would be football related, not drug related.

#gettingthejumponbren

flasSId* wrote:

#gettingthejumponbren

I'm just surprised it wasn't meth or eccies.

^ He had his chance and bottled it.

In a serious response to Mullen, for a Knights standpoint, it's a slap in the face. The club stuck by him for years with injuries and he does this. Goodbye, Mullen.

From Mullen's point of view, he showed weak character but after so many injuries he's probably got sick of rehab and knew his time was up so he's tired to get back too quick and cheated.

Horrible way to end a career that never reached the heights that it should have.

Cheaters cannot be tolerated in the game, I think the NRL should really make an example out of him since any punishment really ends his career anyway. Give him the full 4 year ban.

As bad as it is hopefully it was only from desperation. I feel sorry for the bloke.

I agree with you Honeysett. Maximum ban should apply.

Has the base penalty been increased to 4 years? From memory guys who got steroid bans used to only get 2 years (thinking track runners as much as anything). Unless it's his second offence?????

Dip wrote:Has the base penalty been increased to 4 years? From memory guys who got steroid bans used to only get 2 years (thinking track runners as much as anything). Unless it's his second offence?????

The most recent example is 12 months reduced to 3 games with backdating....

Oz Sport Mad wrote:

The most recent example is 12 months reduced to 3 games with backdating....

totally different situation


It must be 2 years for rec drugs and 4 years for performance enhancers??

Pieman wrote:

totally different situation


It must be 2 years for rec drugs and 4 years for performance enhancers??

Is it 12 months for 'only cheating a bit' or something??

If the ban was only 2 years, Mullen's career might not be over.

Even if it were 4 years, the bloke is only 29 and has only racked up 200 odd games due to injuries....not out of the question that he takes the time off to heal is frail body and returns at 33yo

Oz Sport Mad wrote:

Is it 12 months for 'only cheating a bit' or something??

If the ban was only 2 years, Mullen's career might not be over.

Even if it were 4 years, the bloke is only 29 and has only racked up 200 odd games due to injuries....not out of the question that he takes the time off to heal is frail body and returns at 33yo

12 months was for unknowingly cheating under the impression that you're not doing the wrong thing.

2 years is for illegal substances and 4 years is for steroids. I thought that was a fairly new thing though

I highly doubt any club would sign an injury prone 33 year old who's had 4 years out of the game. But if he is signed by anyone, the Tigers will probably be paying 40% of his salary.

I could see him coming back at 33 for the Storm, or bronco's if bennett is still there.

Oz Sport Mad wrote:

Is it 12 months for 'only cheating a bit' or something??

If the ban was only 2 years, Mullen's career might not be over.

Even if it were 4 years, the bloke is only 29 and has only racked up 200 odd games due to injuries....not out of the question that he takes the time off to heal is frail body and returns at 33yo

Intentional doping v being given something that the well regarded dr said is fine

Much like the Ben Barba case a massive headache for the club saved. Will have a heap of cap room but with that comes a big test, will they waste it with below avg mid-year signings other clubs need off the books to get under the cap or do the right thing, re-sign a few of their promising young guys front loading the contract now giving them a massive amount to make big signings over 2018/19 to complement Ponga

Honeysett wrote:

12 months was for unknowingly cheating under the impression that you're not doing the wrong thing.

2 years is for illegal substances and 4 years is for steroids. I thought that was a fairly new thing though

The 12 months was an almost unprecedented relaxation.

It's meant to be difficult to prove no fault or negligence so that everyone who get's caught doesn't then attempt to claim it - surprised Mullen hasn't tried the same defence to be honest...maybe he still will.

Shanbon wrote:Much like the Ben Barba case a massive headache for the club saved. Will have a heap of cap room but with that comes a big test, will they waste it with below avg mid-year signings other clubs need off the books to get under the cap or do the right thing, re-sign a few of their promising young guys front loading the contract now giving them a massive amount to make big signings over 2018/19 to complement Ponga

Agreed.

Would be a shame to have gone through all the growing pain's of last year, only to be tempted by some short term relief that isn't part of the long term plan.

Mullen, wow, what a naughty boy. I would never of thought he would do such a thing but I guess he was so desperate to overcome his troublesome groin issues he didn't think about the consequences and wanted to take a short cut in recovery.

What surprises me is he was tested late last year and he would have known the result would eventually come back positive, so why not take the easy out and retire before being humiliated and labelled a drug cheat.

Bloody dumb idiot for taking steroids in the first place.