That's the problem with limited vocabulary maybe you've spent too much time living in Cudwooorth

I might be wrong, but didn't the issues that got him banned stemmed from his time at Hull KR, but he was with us by the time they came to light?

He's done some questionable stuff and I'd like to think he isn't proud of them, but we're a club who consistently give players a second chance, and it usually works out okay.

He left HKR because of a serious court case he was involved in. He then left us because he tested positive for cocaine. He then left Salford by ‘mutual consent’ just before the start of this season. There were rumours floating round about why but it was never confirmed publicly. You’d think he is running out of chances.

Hull KR stood by him and were quite miffed when he left them for Saints. HR had been relegated.

Couldn't get a regular slot for Saints before we signed him. I thought he was on our books when he got tested positive though???? It's the damage he did to Bill Tupou as a Salford player that gets my goat.

Yes actually i think you're right, he did the dirty on Hull KR after they backed him during his trial. Didn't fit in at saints and came to us. Got done for drugs after a game against Widnes, the same match Rangi Chase did the same i think?

Now it's not my job to defend or attack Walker's past, one because I don't really care and two because his biggest crime as such is that he got caught. Be honest in the crazy world we now live in his offences barely register, had he made transphobic comments that may have been the end of him but drugs? Drugs, a peculiar obsession that sport fans have in a world where in all other aspects of life it’s pretty much a given. The rank hypocrisy of this attitude is even more ludicrous if you go sniff the air in the North stand these days, it like Marrakesh!

I only care that he can play and that he hopefully doesn't eat new-born babies for his tea, that would be beyond the pale even for me.

Just to make my point that bad lads are part and parcel of the game, always have been, always will be, I'll share something with you. Due to a family connection I have a great knowledge of RL players indiscretions past and present, including Wakefield players. I'll be vague, no names, places or even eras other than to say they were all well liked Trinity players at some point.

Bear with me on this PT as it makes a point and trust me nobody will be able to put two and two together. Apologies if you feel these anecdotes are in bad taste but they are all true.

1: A body taken from a Chapel of Rest and propped up in a park with a fag in its mouth. A drunken prank that was hushed up. The miscreants were by all accounts utterly ashamed of themselves once sober. But hell, that's a bad one, can you imagine the effect that had on relatives. This happened so long ago that both players involved have also now spent some time with an under taker.

2: Clubs story, player out for season after breaking ‘leg’ in training. Players story, broke both legs by falling off a bridge whilst drunk. Actual story, player jumped from a bridge that was higher than he thought whilst running from the police after being caught stripping lead from a roof!

3: A players who was done for assault numerous times whilst still a junior player and who eventually did some time by unsuccessfully selling his services as a hit man! It’s true, though he never actually did one, his rate by the way was £100 per hit, seriously he didn’t even know the value of the service he was offering.

As for more modern players. Well performance enhancing drugs are an issue, but recreational drug use is far more serious and more widespread. Apparently Cocaine is the go-to drug and Trinity are not immune. Walker appears to be one of those players who wasn’t bright enough to conceal his issues.

We put ridiculous expectations on what are basically gifted but relatively un-educated young men, not that educations stops people doing stupid things. The vast majority of players are decent enough people but as in all walks of life a few are absolute rotter’s whilst some others are just plain weak. It's the mix of life. Walker may still be a knob, or he may finally have learned his lessons, we'll eventually find out I suppose. Clearly the club echo’s this last bit, hence why he's on trial at the club and not a signing.
We all tend to be judgemental and in politics or say the law that is absolutely vital, in RL not so much. If a player commits a serious misdemeanour let the law decide and the club take its cue from them and ditto the fans. For more human errors in judgement then let’s not have a double standard, one that appears to be much higher for them than us. Especially in RL where the financial rewards or the fame are hardly stella.

Give the lad a go, see how it works out and remember as it stands the guy is innocent and has paid for past offences, that’s how the law works.

Final point, anyone remember Tacey Lazenby? Did18 month for something but one of the shrewdest buys Toppo ever made, a gifted footballer who never let us down.

Not sure the possible 'urban myths' add any value to the discussion but I do agree that Walker should be allowed the opportunity to play for any club that believes he can do the business, he can't change his yesterdays but today and tomorrow he could and it could be beneficial for Trinity and if it doesn't, turn out well possibly the Championship may be his next gig.

Most stories probably do fall into the urban myth category but not these, these are on record shall we say. Doesn’t matter anyway as they make the point. In modern RL there does come a certain responsibility. I don’t buy the roll model stuff but once you go pro you are obliged to follow company rules. However those rules are no different in RL to most other walks of life. You break them, you get punished, you start again having hopefully learned your lesson. Ditto off field and on field are not behaviour are not the same. Unless it directly impacts the club, for example took place on club time or property it’s a non issue in my book.

If it it were a truly big issue I would expect that player to be an ex player and probably in prison.

Be interesting to know what clauses there are in a players contract regarding non playing issues.

I tend to agree with your point about paying for his crime Vastman.
I've no problem with a player who was caught using recreational drugs getting a second chance if the legal system has decided he has paid the price.
Performance enhancing drugs are slightly different as they are cheating the sport and therefore has another angle to the punishment.

If it was my club and my decision, I wouldn't have a problem giving Walker a trial, assuming he is fit to play and fits in with the team. That includes not taking drugs now.
As a player, I would not want to play with a player who takes performance enhancing drugs or at a club who backs a player doing it. That's just how I am.

In terms of Tracy Lazenby. He's one of my all time favourite players. Made a mistake when younger and paid for it harder than most do. I've met him since and he is a great bloke and does a lot to help others now. Didn't fit the profile of a marketable player but in terms of skill and effort he was one of the best we had in a quite successful team.

It should be said though that although it is not hard to find people taking coke, and that it isn't strictly speaking performance enhancing like steroids are, it is still illegal and you can get up to 7 years for possession never mind dealing.
Shouldn't be tolerated at the club in my opinion.
Once you've paid your price the slate is clean but its not a free run at doing it again.

Tracy Lazenby, I will always remember when he was playing stand off and made a break before passing to the winger. To make sure he gave them every opportunity to score after passing he fell over taking out the two defenders.

Yeah, the pass to Mason was it, in the Yorkshire Cup Final. Well thought out move.

Geoff Wraith had a similar move when tackling a centre who had a winger outside. He would take the legs and swing his whole body round like a human bolas taking out the winger as well.

Wow really went over your head didn’t it but that’s the price you pay when you are over keen to virtue signal.

Personally I have no time for drugs in any form including the over use of alcohol. However I’m not the norm, society in general doesn’t seem to care anymore. Why you would assume has a trivial attitude towards drugs say more about you than me. The real issue is the dual standards of folk who stand on the terraces, drunk and abusive who then demand players be roll models to their kids even though they clearly can’t be bothered.