BY KEVIN CRANSON
02 Mar, 2010 04:00 AM
THE big hits just keep coming for the Knights.
First came the revelations in 2007 that former captain Andrew Johns took social drugs for much of his first-grade career to help him deal with depression and bipolar disorder.
The suggestion at the time was that some in the Knights hierarchy were aware that their matchwinning halfback was playing Russian roulette with the NRL's drug-testers.
Johns was largely forgiven by the fans, and his very public efforts to deal with his issues and shine a light on his condition have been widely applauded.
The Knights, too, have worked hard since then to put the shine back on their tarnished armour.
Drug-testing has been increased to well above the NRL's minimum requirements, their player education program has been lauded, and noted disciplinarian Brian Smith was appointed coach in 2007 with a brief to clean out the playing roster and rebuild the club's culture.
Those efforts were undone on December 16 last year when front-rower Danny Wicks was charged with a raft of drug offences.
Police suggested in court that their investigations might not end with Wicks.
That proved true yesterday when second-rower Chris Houston was also charged with drug offences.
Both were brought to the club by Smith.
In the intervening period, the club chased hard to sign renowned NRL bad boy Willie Mason, who was out of favour with Smith at his new club, the Roosters.
Mason signed with the Cowboys.
Mason's brother Les was charged at the weekend with supplying ecstasy.
There is no suggestion that Willie was involved in the allegations against his brother, but it wouldn't have been a good look for the Knights if he was on their books.
When Wicks was charged, the Knights were quick to deny that the club had a drug culture.
"To the best of our knowledge, of course, we don't believe that there is any involvement from any other player, nor do we believe that we have a drug culture in our club," Burraston said at a press conference.
"We do test more than any other club in the NRL and our tests have been clear [so] we certainly don't believe we're at that state.
"From our meeting this morning with the players, and I've also met with all our staff this morning, I don't believe there is any involvement in drug supply or in using illicit substances throughout our club."
There were no such bold statements from the club yesterday.
Neither Burraston nor club chairman Rob Tew returned calls from The Herald.
Instead, the club released a two-sentence statement: "Newcastle Knights player, Chris Houston has been stood down immediately and indefinitely following reports he was charged this afternoon on drug related allegations. The Newcastle Knights will not be making any comment until further notice."
The club's supporters deserve better than this head-in-the-sand attitude.
They want someone to assure them their club isn't going down the gurgler.
So far fans and sponsors have stuck solid.
Good thing too, because the club literally cannot afford a backlash from those who pay the bills. The Knights have an accumulated debt of more than $2.5 million.
On top of that, they face two court battles that will have a major impact on their dire finances.
They are seeking compensation from the State Government for losses they claim to have incurred during the refurbishment of EnergyAustralia Stadium and are withholding a reported $1.5 million in rent.
Meanwhile, they are suing their sub-tenant at EAS, Jets owner Con Constantine, for more than $300,000 he is withholding from them for basically the same reason.
If one of the club's bigger sponsors was to decide that they didn't want to be associated with the Knights "brand" any more, the consequences would be devastating and possibly terminal.
Against this backdrop, the Knights must try to get their act together on the field.
Wicks was a fringe first-grader, but Houston was on the verge of representative selection last season and had been earmarked as a future club captain.
Most agencies have suspended betting on the wooden spoon, but you could lay London to a brick that when markets reopen the boys from Newcastle will be favourites.
The Knights will hold their season launch on Thursday.
It promises to be a sombre affair.
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