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Karmichael Hunt: hero to zero
Karmichael Hunt arrives at his home yesterday after the cocaine claims exploded. Pic: Darren England
MORE than 10 footballers are embroiled in the Queensland Crime and Corruption Commission probe that on Friday netted Reds star Karmichael Hunt and Titans duo Beau Falloon and Jamie Dowling.
In Queensland sport’s darkest day, the CCC yesterday dropped a bombshell, levelling charges against tri-code athlete Hunt, Falloon and Dowling for allegedly supplying cocaine.
The series of busts are part of a sweeping, six-month police sting that saw former Origin league stars Jason Smith and Matt Seers charged last month for cocaine trafficking.
Hunt, Falloon and Dowling were immediately stood down by their clubs. And well-placed sources told The Courier-Mail on Friday night more big names are under surveillance at three leading Queensland teams – NRL’s Titans, rugby’s Reds and AFL’s Suns.
It can be revealed drug investigators have personally contacted a fourth Queensland sporting star, while as many as seven Titans players are in the crosshairs of the probe.
Jamie Dowling scores for the Titans.
More charges are expected to be laid on Saturday, following Saturday night’s trial between North Queensland and the Titans in Cairns.
The CCC will allege the players were supplying cocaine for personal use or to on-supply cocaine to friends and colleagues between June and December last year.
The first ruction hit on Friday morning, when 28-year-old Hunt – the Reds’ marquee off-season recruit – was charged with four counts of supplying cocaine.
Queensland sport was then rocked by revelations Falloon, 27, and Dowling, 24, had also been served with notices to appear in court on four and two counts of supply respectively.
The trio will appear in Southport Magistrates Court on March 5 – the day of the NRL’s premiership opener between the Broncos and Souths at Suncorp Stadium.
Officials at the Gold Coast Suns said last night they had not been contacted by authorities. But the Titans are facing a nervous wait, with top-liners other than Falloon and Dowling also on the CCC’s drugs radar.
Beau Falloon at training.
Shattered Titans boss Graham Annesley admitted on Friday night it was a “black day” for the club, with Dowling and Falloon failing to advise the club of their arrests.
“Unfortunately, I was placed in a situation where I learned about these matters through the media,” he said.
Asked if there would be more arrests, he said: “I simply don’t know. I didn’t know these matters were being made public today. We have to see what unfolds.
“We have spent the vast part of the day trying to get the veracity of what were rumours but are now facts.
“The playing group has been addressed this afternoon to advise them of what is going on.
“The fact it has taken us a long time today to verify these matters is very disappointing.
“There are a lot of very good people associated with this club. It is not fair to them that get dragged through these scandals.”
Titans hooker Beau Falloon.
The Titans have now been forced out of their Southport School training facility and are currently homeless.
The Titans decided it was in the school’s and their best interest to not train in the vicinity of children while two of their players are facing cocaine supply charges.
Titans chief executive Graham Annesley said the club had no contingency plans and would have to rush to find a new place to train.
The Titans had only been at the venue this pre-season after their lease ran out at the much-maligned Centre of Excellence.
Jamie Dowling at training.
Criminal lawyer Chris Nyst confirmed he would be representing Falloon, saying: “We’re given to understand it relates to alleged relatively minor drug use unrelated to Mr Falloon’s football activities.”
Dowling also intends to contest the charges.
QRU CEO Jim Carmichael said: “It has been determined by QRU, ARU and the Rugby Union Players’ Association and after discussion with Karmichael that it would be best for his welfare that he is not available for selection this weekend.”
Meanwhile, former Brisbane CEO Bruno Cullen insists Hunt was not involved with drugs during his Broncos career.
Cullen was chief of the Broncos from 2003 until 2010, Hunt’s entire career at the club.
Cullen said there were no issues presented to him regarding Hunt that involved drugs.
“I’m totally shocked,” Cullen said.
“We had no indication of any of that activity when he was at the Broncos.
“Definitely not. There was no suggestion of anything to do with that (drugs).”
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...sland-drug-probe/story-fni3grk4-1227232342706
Karmichael Hunt arrives at his home yesterday after the cocaine claims exploded. Pic: Darren England
MORE than 10 footballers are embroiled in the Queensland Crime and Corruption Commission probe that on Friday netted Reds star Karmichael Hunt and Titans duo Beau Falloon and Jamie Dowling.
In Queensland sport’s darkest day, the CCC yesterday dropped a bombshell, levelling charges against tri-code athlete Hunt, Falloon and Dowling for allegedly supplying cocaine.
The series of busts are part of a sweeping, six-month police sting that saw former Origin league stars Jason Smith and Matt Seers charged last month for cocaine trafficking.
Hunt, Falloon and Dowling were immediately stood down by their clubs. And well-placed sources told The Courier-Mail on Friday night more big names are under surveillance at three leading Queensland teams – NRL’s Titans, rugby’s Reds and AFL’s Suns.
It can be revealed drug investigators have personally contacted a fourth Queensland sporting star, while as many as seven Titans players are in the crosshairs of the probe.
Jamie Dowling scores for the Titans.
More charges are expected to be laid on Saturday, following Saturday night’s trial between North Queensland and the Titans in Cairns.
The CCC will allege the players were supplying cocaine for personal use or to on-supply cocaine to friends and colleagues between June and December last year.
The first ruction hit on Friday morning, when 28-year-old Hunt – the Reds’ marquee off-season recruit – was charged with four counts of supplying cocaine.
Queensland sport was then rocked by revelations Falloon, 27, and Dowling, 24, had also been served with notices to appear in court on four and two counts of supply respectively.
The trio will appear in Southport Magistrates Court on March 5 – the day of the NRL’s premiership opener between the Broncos and Souths at Suncorp Stadium.
Officials at the Gold Coast Suns said last night they had not been contacted by authorities. But the Titans are facing a nervous wait, with top-liners other than Falloon and Dowling also on the CCC’s drugs radar.
Beau Falloon at training.
Shattered Titans boss Graham Annesley admitted on Friday night it was a “black day” for the club, with Dowling and Falloon failing to advise the club of their arrests.
“Unfortunately, I was placed in a situation where I learned about these matters through the media,” he said.
Asked if there would be more arrests, he said: “I simply don’t know. I didn’t know these matters were being made public today. We have to see what unfolds.
“We have spent the vast part of the day trying to get the veracity of what were rumours but are now facts.
“The playing group has been addressed this afternoon to advise them of what is going on.
“The fact it has taken us a long time today to verify these matters is very disappointing.
“There are a lot of very good people associated with this club. It is not fair to them that get dragged through these scandals.”
Titans hooker Beau Falloon.
The Titans have now been forced out of their Southport School training facility and are currently homeless.
The Titans decided it was in the school’s and their best interest to not train in the vicinity of children while two of their players are facing cocaine supply charges.
Titans chief executive Graham Annesley said the club had no contingency plans and would have to rush to find a new place to train.
The Titans had only been at the venue this pre-season after their lease ran out at the much-maligned Centre of Excellence.
Jamie Dowling at training.
Criminal lawyer Chris Nyst confirmed he would be representing Falloon, saying: “We’re given to understand it relates to alleged relatively minor drug use unrelated to Mr Falloon’s football activities.”
Dowling also intends to contest the charges.
QRU CEO Jim Carmichael said: “It has been determined by QRU, ARU and the Rugby Union Players’ Association and after discussion with Karmichael that it would be best for his welfare that he is not available for selection this weekend.”
Meanwhile, former Brisbane CEO Bruno Cullen insists Hunt was not involved with drugs during his Broncos career.
Cullen was chief of the Broncos from 2003 until 2010, Hunt’s entire career at the club.
Cullen said there were no issues presented to him regarding Hunt that involved drugs.
“I’m totally shocked,” Cullen said.
“We had no indication of any of that activity when he was at the Broncos.
“Definitely not. There was no suggestion of anything to do with that (drugs).”
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...sland-drug-probe/story-fni3grk4-1227232342706
