Not all, but a lot of people do use illegal substances to cope with emotional issues and stress. Doesn’t mean they’re wise to do so, and most aren’t professional sportspeople subject to testing.



I agree, there’s a strong case for consistency.



I suppose we have to forgive children for being childish. But this surely reflects as much the failings of parents to properly explain a simple concept, as it does the daftness of many RL players.



I agree there’s a need for a mix of strength/consistency and compassion. And on steroids particularly, education and reflection. The extent to which steroids damage the health of users, I don’t think is as widely understood as it should be. Nor is the extent to which pro athletes are under pressure to deliver. Weighing short or medium term economic incentives against long-term health consequences, and reputational and moral implications isn’t easy. We all have to do it at times, but it is much more intense for rugby players.

Bad news for him and the club.Reading both statements it's hard not to sympathise but also I can see why many don't agree Said after Hardaker incident just how rife Coke use is in modern day life and there are many more who indulge from top international down to amateur game.Its just part of a night out for many lads n lasses beywen17 and 40s. Bad situation and i like Minns as a player.Will the mitigating circumstances be a factor? Probably not but if it is 1st time it's a hell of a price to pay but I guess with drug use in sport you can't really have grey areas? Just sad for the lad is my first reaction

I Lost my brother and dad in a relatively short space of time, i got depressed and am still taking Prozac, we have to realize we are all human and deal with things in very different ways, Thomas made the wrong decision, but he dosn't need to be hung, drawn and quartered - He has my sympathy, and he will pay the price for his indiscretion, as will the club on the field.

Thomas Minns said:

“I want to personally apologise to everyone involved who I have let down and disappointed.

“I admit to taking a banned substance on Mothers’ Day 2018, which was a hugely difficult day for me following the passing of my mother last year.

“I was low and depressed on the day and I felt at the time I needed to do it to get through. I now totally accept that it was huge mistake which could cost me my career.

“I can now only ask for forgiveness and for my arguments of mitigation to be heard and understood.

“I do not wish for sympathy. All I ask is that I am listened to and I can make everyone aware that I did not take this substance to enhance my performance at rugby in anyway.”

I don't buy any of that statement from Minns . He lost his Mother , so he is now saying he took the substance on Mothers day 2018 , this sounds like a sympathy vote to me . I've lost various family members over the years , but I didn't do any snow or weed , whatever he took . I'm guessing snow as its part of society now . He will play the depression card too, no excuses he has been caught , period.

Lets face facts most players will be doing every week , they just take the risk of getting caught .

Define "a lot"

I cannot agree with you on this. You'd only know that if you had arrest records or were personally told may "a lot" of people.

Defining a lot may be challenging as you are correct to state, however I don't think its a jump to conclude a quite high percentage of people struggling with issues do turn to substances.

Whether that be alcohol, cocaine or worse it doesn't really matter - substance relief is very prevalent. Doesn't make it right, and as a professional sports person he needs to make better decisions.

What Minns is saying may be completely true, maybe a one off, however he still had that decision to make and made the wrong one and should pay the consequences. I do hope the club/RFL support him even outside of his contract and I think they have a moral contribution to do so.

Just feels a shame as he seems a decent, genuine lad. Wouldn't fit into the same mould as a chase/walker/hock who all have questionable traits as people. But he deserves to be dealt with exactly the same.

Good job vaivai's debut was so promising then, takes some of the heat off!

If what I'm hearing is true Minns won't be the last player from our club getting a ban I'm not naming names but Oakes or Moss may be getting some game time soon

He snort to have known better.

Without going in to details I have issues the same as you. The problem is that when something like this happens some people play the mental health card as convenient excuse which leads to scepticism and I can fully understand that. If Minns's excuse is genuine and there's nothing to say it isn't he'll need all the help he can get from the club and RL state of mind.

That certainly narrows it down!

That's how I see it also.

Recently lost a parent myself and although i never resorted to doing anything stupid i must sympathise with minns , i know how he must have felt .Instead of slating the kid the family that is rugby league or so we are told should get its act together and support these lads . Agree he deserves some kind of punishment but to take his living away is tough , any other walk of life ie TV star drunk driving and people fall over themselves to offer sympathy .Hope he gets his life back on track and receives the care and support he needs including the rugby league world and social media!

I left it vague deliberately, as I can't know.

Here are the results of a 2014 survey

I'm not sure arrest records for use would be a very good guide. In a single year The NCA seized 69.8 tonnes of cocaine, 4.5 tonnes of heroin, and 123.1 tonnes of cannabis. A tonne is a million grams - that's a gram of coke each for every man, woman and child in the UK, give or take. Presumably a lot more gets through to the market. Even if the surveys aren't completely accurate, I can't see only 'a few' people's noses, lungs and veins being able to support that level of criminal trade.

The only thing I can say about minns is goodbye we and rugby league do not need or want you or anybody else that take drugs of any sort

Maybe he has got some off field issues, who knows, but when are these players going to realise that its a short career and not a well paid one when you compare to some sports, rugby is all a lot of these lads know so it amazes me how there prepared to throw it all away so easily.