Head to Head

[Prince Langer]

Hang on.
Johns took drugs his whole career. How can he still be classed as the best player to have played the game?

If i took performance enhancing drugs, i could become the best. There is a reason they are banned in professional sport.

Langer 4 Premierships
Johns 2 Premierships.

This is what matters.
Also i recall seeing Langer wear the number 7 jersey for Australia with Johns @ 9.

If Johns becomes and immortal then the ARL is endorsing drug use in our game.

 

[Coxy]

While not in the least condoning Johns' addictions, how exactly are speed/cocaine/ecstacy performance enhancing drugs?

 

[OXY-351]

While not in the least condoning Johns' addictions, how exactly are speed/cocaine/ecstacy performance enhancing drugs?

Exactly, if anything, they would have hampered his performance. I think calling Johns a drug "cheat" is a little misleading. The only person he was cheatin was himself

 

[schmix]

You could argue that he used them to deal with the pressures felt by all top class footballers. Everyone else has to find a legal way of coping, while he just chose to pop a pill. So they didn't help physically, but emotionally?

(This is not necessarily my point of view, I'm a bit of a fence-sitter in this instance, but just putting it out there.)

 

[Flutterby]

You make a valid point Schmix. But for me whether it helped or hindered his performance, it was against the rules of the sport and in fact was illegal. In no way does it detract from my opinion of his as one of the greatest players we have ever had in terms of footballing skill and ability; but in reality he shouldn't have been able to consistently break the rules and continue playing and be lauded as a hero. OK so it shows failings in the system that he was never officially caught and punished. And when it comes to bestowing immortal status I will be mortified if he gets it, because I agree with Prince Langer - to me that is the game endorsing illicit drug use.

 

[Coxy]

You make a valid point Schmix. But for me whether it helped or hindered his performance, it was against the rules of the sport and in fact was illegal. In no way does it detract from my opinion of his as one of the greatest players we have ever had in terms of footballing skill and ability; but in reality he shouldn't have been able to consistently break the rules and continue playing and be lauded as a hero. OK so it shows failings in the system that he was never officially caught and punished. And when it comes to bestowing immortal status I will be mortified if he gets it, because I agree with Prince Langer - to me that is the game endorsing illicit drug use.

+1!

Just because I stop short of calling him a cheat, I think his "extra curricular activities" should discount him from "immortality", just as it should've disqualified him from the team of the century etc.

It's a stain on our game that the "Halfback of the Century" is a guy who spent his entire career on illicit, illegal drugs, flaunting the drug testing rules etc.

 

[OXY-351]

It's a stain on our game that the "Halfback of the Century" is a guy who spent his entire career on illicit, illegal drugs, flaunting the drug testing rules etc.

It really depends on whether you think these accolades should go to a player based purely on on-field performances, or whether it should be based on the way they represent the game also. I personally think it should be based purely on on-field performances, so he deserves his spot (assuming you agree that he's better than Langer)

I'm sure there are legends of the game back in the 70s/80s/90s that, if they were around today, would attract similar headlines to those of Johns, Stewart etc. They were just lucky they were playing at a time it was almost considered par for the course to get drunk and play up. The media has created such hysteria around player behaviour these days that I'm surprised Greg Inglis didn't get stood down after I saw him pick his nose when the storm were playing up here at the start of the season.

Let's not forget that had Johns not admitted to using drugs throughout his career, there would actually be no substance to the rumours that were floating around. They had nothing on him. Sure he got caught with drugs AFTER he retired, but he didn't have to admit to using drugs throughout his career, that was his choise, and I respect him for coming clean.

 

[rnabokov]

Wow! I'm reading last year's posts!

 

[Professor47]

Well The early 90s footage of Langer was when I was a kid. Was the early 90's his peak? I'm simply asking.

but judging from about 96-2002 - As Coxy mentioned Alfie on the decline through the late 90s and Joey on the rise. I suppose that could be a factor. Regardless, I still think Joey was a better 'footballer' - but as I mentioned before, just football skills, nothing else. Alfie won more games with his brilliance and was every bronco kid's favourite who was growing up in the 90s. I don't think Joey ever applied his skills to the level Alfie did, didnt have much luck with his health that Joey.