We said this about Gaz Hock at the time, world class player but cant help himself off the field. If he gets a lengthy ban, that'll be him done probably at 31 yrs old.

Well said. However, not every drug taker is a victim of bad wiring. There are some who simply don't care or are pathalogically incabable of refusing temptation. Chase has been incredibly stupid. Especially so, if as intimated in the original reports, that he's taken this stuff shortly before playing & then gambled on not being caught. Although, didn't he cite a split from his familly (last year...?) as causing some downward spiral? I hope we're not going to see that the RFL or the club have ignored signs that could & should have been pounced on over the last year or so & given him some extra support.

What now for him though? An incredible tallent on the field, but what has he to fall back on? If the ban is confirmed, how will that effect his visa? I can't see NZ having him back. I just hope he gets whatever support he needs & isn't just hung out to dry.

Dave Woods summed it up quite succinctly on the BBC's write-up rlhttp://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/40821259rl

I am a Diabetic but still eat sweet things because i choose to just like people who smoke,drink or take drugs its about choice Rangi made his and has to live with it he does obviously have psychological problems which he needs help with i think Widnes/Rfl have a duty of care to help him like did with Hock

I'd take a slightly different tack and say that recreational drug use does not of itself necessarily indicate any crisis, mental health issue, or anything else, regardless of our views on the subject.

The rightness and wisdom of doing it when a professional sportsman however, are another matter entirely.

I have little sympathy for him, Tangi Ropati's jaw, his tackle that put Manfredi out and so on.

He has taken coke, a drug with little performance enhancing qualities and one that many people in the UK take regularly and yes it's illegal. He knows the rules and chose to break them, if he's an addict then he has clearly been getting away with this for a long time.

He isn't a role model and never has been, no doubt he has skill but I don't see any other redeeming features throughout his career.

'Twas i, but i stole it.....

If you are a young, relativity well paid young man, with everybody telling you how wonderful you are, i can imagine that many of us would bugger it up...

I know i would have, but you can't snort mild beer..