Rugby League: Andrew Johns: I relied on ecstasy and drink

Aug 31 2007 Liverpool Daily Post

RUGBY LEAGUE great Andrew Johns has made the stunning confession he took ecstasy throughout his career to escape the pressure of stardom.

The World Cup-winning scrum-half, who played for Warrington in the 2005 season, also admitted he has an alcohol problem and is battling depression.

His startling revelations follow his arrest in London on Sunday for possession of an ecstasy tablet.

Johns originally confessed to having the tablet in his pocket and said he planned to get rid of it.

But in an interview with his former New South Wales coach Phil Gould on Thursday night’s Footy Show – a rugby league programme on Australian TV station, the Nine Network – the former champion half-back admitted he would have swallowed the tablet and had used ecstasy extensively in the past.

“I’ll put my hand up – I was going to take it,” a visibly shaken Johns said.

“It’s happened before. People have given me ecstasy before.

“For 10 years I’ve taken it on and off, generally during the off-season.

“There’s times during the season when I’ve run the gauntlet and played Russian roulette and taken them.

“There were times when we’d be playing the biggest game of the season and it (taking ecstasy) would be in the back of my mind.

“I wouldn’t say I had a drug dependency – I do it occasionally – (but) I had an alcohol problem.

“I used it (ecstasy) to escape the pressure.

“I don’t want to make excuses. I’ve put my hand up. I’ve done the wrong thing and I’m so ashamed of it.”

Johns conceded his family, the Knights club and team-mates were aware of his drug problem and feared the day the drug testers would catch up with him.

“People probably ask how you avoid the drug testers but if you play Friday night, don’t train Saturday, Sunday, then generally it’s out (of your system) by Monday,” he explained.

Johns admitted to battling depression throughout his career and has been on medication for the past five years.

“I didn’t want to take it because it stabilised me and took away the incredible highs, but invariably after the highs I’d crash to the lows where I couldn’t leave the house for four days,” he said.

Meanwhile, Warrington welcome back winger Henry Fa’afili from an ankle injury for tonight’s home game with Huddersfield in the only change to the side that beat Catalans Dragons in their last match. They are still without Paul Johnson, Stuart Reardon, Chris Bridge, Michael Sullivan and Vinnie Anderson.

Warrington have given new contracts to academy products Ben Harrison, Steve Pickersgill, Chris Riley and Mike Cooper.