B]News footage an ominous warning ahead of Dylan Walker and Aaron Gray incident[/B]
September 26, 2015 - 10:00PM
Danny Weidler
Sport columnist
This is a story about a piece of vision that we just don't know what to do with in the Nine newsroom.
Airing it without describing what happens would be inconsequential – you have to know what you are looking for. Airing it and pointing out what it looks like is going on would be dynamite.
But in light of the Dylan Walker and Aaron Gray situation it has meaning – because Souths boss John Lee has admitted the club has an issue. And in light of stories that have been circulated about Walker in particular since – it has context. It's very hard to imagine or believe what those two young men did early on Monday night was a one-off. That they both had an "adverse reaction" at the same time is nearly impossible to believe. But back to the vision shot by one of my Nine colleagues. It was a sunny Sunday morning in July after the Rabbits destroyed the Knights 52-6. The Bunnies players were recovering at Prince Alfred pool.
The entire squad was there. Most of the players were wearing tracksuits and moving gingerly. There is no shot of Walker or Gray. Instead, one player who is sitting on the ground reaches into his bag. Without making eye contact with the player he is about to connect with, he produces what looks to be a small, clear plastic bag with something in it that is impossible to determine.
But it's the hand-off, almost like a flick pass, that makes it look unusual. Suspect to say the least.
The player who receives the bag slides it straight into his pocket without looking at what he just received. He has a bottle of water in his other hand and there is no immediate attempt to try to take the substance. Our cameraman moved on – it was so subtle that he didn't realise what he captured. We've watched it time and again in the office and wondered what to do. The NRL was told about the vision before this column was written. Numerous attempts to speak to Lee in recent days have been met with no response. When we broke the news about Walker and Gray being rushed to hospital, it was the first thing many of us in the sports department revisited. That vision.
It is something Souths are welcome to look at – but they won' t be able to explain what the players are doing because the contents of that bag are not able to be clearly seen.
But the club should be concerned – if two players are doing this, what are the others up to? It's a question they are sure to be asked by the NRL as they investigate.
I'm not sure if Greg Alexander knew something more when he was speaking on Fox during the week when he observed that the senior playing group sets the example for the young players. It's in the culture of the club.
I remember when the Roosters had an issue with prescription medication – they identified the two players who were handing the pills around and they were banished.
The Roosters are now a club with a strong culture – three straight minor premierships says that.
Both of the players speared had promise. One has not been heard of since, barring a court appearance, while the other has bounced from club to club and is still in the NRL.
It's the culture of secrecy that hurts Souths. Their players are given briefings and speak of "the process" and other meaningless things instead of being themselves.
It was a huge plus that Walker and Gray fronted the media and said a few words, even though they were prepared. More than anything they said it was the huge sigh of relief that Gray breathed just before he talked that said it all. It said he won't do it again and it said he knew he was lucky he was here to do the breathing.
It might signal a different era. One of less intensity and secrecy. Remember the ice spray and performance chips Souths were using during their premiership season?
That was all done on the quiet. When it was exposed, Michael Maguire was not pleased, to say the least.
When I was first tipped off about the Walker-Gray story my first call was to the NRL to see if Souths had reported the unfolding drama. It was not long after 7am when I called and it was at a point when the players were still in a very bad way. The NRL were unaware.
I called the management of Walker – Allan Gainey had heard nothing. By this time one of my colleagues, Damian Ryan, was hightailing it to the house where the drugs were taken and I was at St Vincents. I called Gainey again. He had made contact with a family member of Walker – his sister – who confirmed Walker had taken pain killers – Oxycodone and Tramadol.
By this point Gray's father Brian had confirmed to Ryan that his son had been rushed to hospital. It was true and his family was shattered.
I remember dealing with Aaron's dad on a regular basis in my early days as a reporter. Honest and solid. Always fit. He seemed more army than rugby league, but the sport drips from his pores.
He was a shining light during these past few dark days for his family and the sport. Gray coached Roosters top dog Trent Robinson in lower grades and media man Jimmy Smith.
Smith relayed the tale of how Gray went to bed at 10.30pm and woke up to six paramedics working on his son. The same kid who was a Roosters ball boy growing up.
Souths' initial comment about an adverse reaction have been described as an attempted cover-up. This column is prepared to cut the club some slack – they were dealing with a very delicate situation. Subsequent interviews provided by Lee were more insightful and like Gray he handled himself with class. Let's hope that continues and the welfare of the players is remembered in the win-at-all-costs approach they adopt.
http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/...-and-aaron-gray-incident-20150926-gjvl2p.html
