Scientist denies causing Cronulla man’s death
Broncos’ forwards mastering their game, says coach
Controversial sports scientist Stephen Dank has sensationally confessed to offering Jon Mannah peptides but vehemently denies contributing to the NRL player’s death.
Responding to an explosive newspaper report, Dank yesterday released a statement saying he consulted ‘‘ oncologists about what effects peptides would have on [ Mannah’s] condition’’.
Mannah died from Hodgkin’s lymphoma in January, aged 23.
He had recovered from a first bout of the lymphoma in 2009 to play the first five NRL matches of 2011.
Yesterday, News Ltd newspapers published a leaked extract from an independent report commissioned by Cronulla into alleged use of peptides Brisbane coach Anthony Griffin says his forwards are starting to play the brand of football needed to beat the best teams in the NRL.
He believes the willingness of his forwards to get their hands dirty in tough wins over Queensland rivals Gold Coast and North Queensland in their last two games is a good sign.
The Broncos will need more of it, with a confrontation with South Sydney’s giant pack looming after tonight’s battle with a desperate Wests Tigers.
‘‘ If I have to be pinned down to one thing, I think our forwards are getting us into a real tough grind of football which we want to play,’’ said Griffin.
‘‘ As with any team you are your best when your forwards are leading the way. in the club’s supplements programme in 2011. It questioned whether Mannah’s cancer relapse could be linked to peptide use.
‘‘ I feel terribly sorry for what the Mannah family is going through right now. I can’t imagine their pain,’’ Dank said in a statement. ‘‘ I’m outraged at the suggestion that I accelerated or contributed to his death.
‘‘ I was aware of what Jon’s condition was. I definitely did not put him in a position where he could be harmed. I checked with oncologists about what effects peptides would have on his condition. I was assured they were safe for him to use.
‘‘ Like all players, Jon was given full information about what he was doing and it was his decision whether or not
‘‘ Our forwards have been good the last couple of weeks. I thought they did a great job against the Cowboys pack.’’
Griffin wasn’t interested in recent compliments coming Brisbane’s way as they took their season record to 3- 3.
‘‘ Like I said when you [ media] were all bagging the crap out of us, we don’t li sten too much,’’ he said. ‘‘ We’re not interested in the feedback.
‘‘ If we start sitting on our hands now thinking everything i s going alright the results will start to go against us.’’
The Tigers have shuffled their side around with exciting young prospect James Tedesco moving from wing to fullback to allow the creative Tim Moltzen to team with teenager Curtis to take part. What has been reported and implied today is horrifying and untrue.’’
Earlier, Parramatta co- captain Tim Mannah expressed his family’s disappointment at reports linking his brother’s cancer battle with alleged peptide use at the Sharks.
Doubts also emerged about the link between peptide use and the increased likelihood of a relapse or onset of lymphoma. Leading cancer expert Professor Robert Baxter described the link as ‘‘ tenuous at best’’.
He said children being treated for leukaemia were occasionally given growth hormones to help give them normal growth. He described that process as ‘‘ highly controversial’’ but stressed there was no evidence of any risk, and pointed out peptide injections would promote even less potential risk.
‘‘ That’s when the link is getting totally tenuous,’’ said Professor Baxter, from the Kolling Institute at Sydney’s Royal North Shore Hospital.
That provided little relief for the Sironen in the halves.
Griffin expected Sironen to bring a different style to the game than injured star Benji Marshall usually offers and he felt Tedesco was also a player to watch.
‘‘ He’s a quality player. He brings a different dynamic to them at fiveeighth,’’ said Griffin.
‘‘ He’s a big strong kid, a real runner of the football and direct like another forward.
‘‘ I’m sure they’ll play a lot straighter with him there. He’s not a ball player like Benji Marshall. He’s certainly a handful in defence.’’
Tedesco has only played a handful of NRL games but Griffin noted his potential had won him a representative call up last weekend.
Broncos prop Josh McGuire Mannah family, with Tim forced to defend his late brother’s integrity.
‘‘ My brother Johnny was a wonderful man and never, ever would have knowingly consented to taking a banned substance. In fact, he was very careful about everything he did that may affect his health.’’
The Sharks were turned upside down when drawn into the investigation into the use of prohibited substances by the Australian Sports AntiDoping Authority in February, because of their connection with Dank, who worked with the club in 2011.
He has strongly denied giving banned substances to NRL players, while Cronulla have denied using illegal substances. trained strongly yesterday and will take on the Tigers on a limited preparation.
‘‘ Josh hasn’t played much footy this year,’’ said Griffin.
‘‘ He came off the bench against the Dragons and only lasted five or 10 minutes so he’s really only played one game in the last five or six weeks.’’
Griffin was wary of the wounded Tigers.
‘‘ They haven’t been far away the last few games,’’ he said.
‘‘ They probably beat themselves against Melbourne then they did a lot of things wrong and only went down by a point to St George Illawarra.
‘‘ They’re ready to beat someone. We just have to get down there and make sure it is not us.’’ South Sydney confirmed their genuine premiership credentials with a spiteful 20- 12 win over Manly at Brookvale Oval in Sydney last night.
In a match marred by two Richie Fa’aoso spear tackles, a Brett Stewart elbow and an all- in brawl, Souths led 2- 0 at halftime and streaked away to a 20- 0 lead after 55 minutes through tries to Greg Inglis, John Sutton and Beau Champion before the home side belatedly fought their way back.
But tries to Anthony Watmough in the 62nd minute and Daly CherryEvans in the 72nd were all the home side could muster.
But of greater concern to Manly than the loss is the immediate playing futures of Fa’aoso and Stewart.
Fa’aoso was put on report for spear tackles on Inglis, the Rabbitohs’ fullback, in the 19th and 44th minutes, the second of which could have earned him a send- off and i s likely to result in a lengthy suspension.
Stewart was also placed on report in the 29th minute for an elbow on Souths winger Andrew Everingham. The incident came off the ball and was stupid rather than vicious as Stewart lightly collected Everingham’s jaw.
It could impact on the NSW star’s State of Origin hopes.
Steve Matai was also put on report for a high tackle on George Burgess in the 47th minute which sparked a brawl that sucked in every player.
Souths’ win was built on solid goalline defence in the first half, in which a 25th- minute Adam Reynolds penalty goal provided the sole points.
The visitors burst out of the blocks after the break when Inglis scored a spectacular 50m try after just 42 secs.
Inglis broke the Sea Eagles’ line, then produced a trademark fend on