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Willie Mason, Nate Myles in new booze bust
By Josh Massoud and Andrew Webster | March 31, 2009 12:00am
Booze ban ... Nate Myles, coach Brad Fittler and Willie Mason. Photograph: Mark Evans / The Daily Telegraph
THE scent of alcohol on Willie Mason's breath has sparked another beer-soaked drama for the NRL.
Mason and fellow enforcer Nate Myles were sensationally axed by the Roosters yesterday after both confessed to drinking on a non-sanctioned day.
Their sacking came as the Bulldogs opened investigations into a punch-up between teen stars Ben Barba and Jamal Idris on Saturday night.
Having just overcome the controversy surrounding hooker Jake Friend's high-range drink-driving charge, the Roosters were again reeling last night. "They've let down their coach, they've let down their mates," Fittler said as he announced that Mason and Myles will turn out for NSW Cup feeder side Newtown this Saturday afternoon at Morrie Breen Oval, Gorokan, on the Central Coast.
The Daily Telegraph has learned that coach Brad Fittler's suspicions were raised when he smelt alcohol on Mason's breath during a morning field session at Moore Park yesterday.
The scent prompted Fittler to ask his entire side if they had consumed alcohol the previous day, which was deemed off-limits to alcohol in accordance with the club's strict policy that only allows players to drink the day after a match.
Myles confessed straight away, leaving Fittler with no choice but to axe both representative stars.
The club - and particularly Fittler - is furious because both are senior players.
They are especially livid with Mason, who they rallied around on Sunday after reports surfaced the club wanted to push him out after this season.
Fittler later revealed that both players had "a few beers" inside their respective houses on Sunday afternoon while watching the football on TV. "I'm disappointed - given the circumstances," Fittler said. "The Roosters have been in the headlines lately and the club is under a lot of scrutiny.
"The scrutiny is sometimes unfair given the innuendo in the papers, the media and the general public. We try to make our discipline as tough as we can so that players don't become the subject of such innuendo.
"There wasn't a lot of venom in what they did. They had a couple of beers in their own homes. But the club has installed a discipline code for a reason and we'll apply it equally whether you are an international or a young bloke coming through."
David Shillington - who has since joined Canberra - was the only previous player to be axed for drinking on the wrong day. He also played for Newtown the following weekend, before bouncing back to first grade.
Roosters CEO Steve Noyce said the club appreciated both players' honesty in admitting to breaking the rules.
"We've got to keep the facts in mind here - they were honest and the club has been pro-active and transparent in standing them down.
"They made a bad choice and they knew what the price would be."
Having lost two of their opening three games and conceded 96 points, the Roosters face Parramatta at the SFS on Friday night.
By Josh Massoud and Andrew Webster | March 31, 2009 12:00am
Booze ban ... Nate Myles, coach Brad Fittler and Willie Mason. Photograph: Mark Evans / The Daily Telegraph
THE scent of alcohol on Willie Mason's breath has sparked another beer-soaked drama for the NRL.
Mason and fellow enforcer Nate Myles were sensationally axed by the Roosters yesterday after both confessed to drinking on a non-sanctioned day.
Their sacking came as the Bulldogs opened investigations into a punch-up between teen stars Ben Barba and Jamal Idris on Saturday night.
Having just overcome the controversy surrounding hooker Jake Friend's high-range drink-driving charge, the Roosters were again reeling last night. "They've let down their coach, they've let down their mates," Fittler said as he announced that Mason and Myles will turn out for NSW Cup feeder side Newtown this Saturday afternoon at Morrie Breen Oval, Gorokan, on the Central Coast.
The Daily Telegraph has learned that coach Brad Fittler's suspicions were raised when he smelt alcohol on Mason's breath during a morning field session at Moore Park yesterday.
The scent prompted Fittler to ask his entire side if they had consumed alcohol the previous day, which was deemed off-limits to alcohol in accordance with the club's strict policy that only allows players to drink the day after a match.
Myles confessed straight away, leaving Fittler with no choice but to axe both representative stars.
The club - and particularly Fittler - is furious because both are senior players.
They are especially livid with Mason, who they rallied around on Sunday after reports surfaced the club wanted to push him out after this season.
Fittler later revealed that both players had "a few beers" inside their respective houses on Sunday afternoon while watching the football on TV. "I'm disappointed - given the circumstances," Fittler said. "The Roosters have been in the headlines lately and the club is under a lot of scrutiny.
"The scrutiny is sometimes unfair given the innuendo in the papers, the media and the general public. We try to make our discipline as tough as we can so that players don't become the subject of such innuendo.
"There wasn't a lot of venom in what they did. They had a couple of beers in their own homes. But the club has installed a discipline code for a reason and we'll apply it equally whether you are an international or a young bloke coming through."
David Shillington - who has since joined Canberra - was the only previous player to be axed for drinking on the wrong day. He also played for Newtown the following weekend, before bouncing back to first grade.
Roosters CEO Steve Noyce said the club appreciated both players' honesty in admitting to breaking the rules.
"We've got to keep the facts in mind here - they were honest and the club has been pro-active and transparent in standing them down.
"They made a bad choice and they knew what the price would be."
Having lost two of their opening three games and conceded 96 points, the Roosters face Parramatta at the SFS on Friday night.
