Dwain Chambers to sign for Castleford

[MrDave]

This is the wrong type of publicity for Castleford and Rugby League, is Rugby League only interesting when a cheat from Athletics with no knowledge of the game decided he wants to take it up so that the Athletics assosision might take note of him again.

If Chambers plays then Castleford attendances might increase while he stay but as soon as the novelty (and that's all that it is) fades then Castleford and Rugby League are in the same situation again.

Also does the RFL have no rules on trial players, in other sports free trial players are not allowed to play in competitive matches, since Chambers is know in the Castleford 20 man squad does that mean they have to pay him. If free trial players can play in the super league then isn't that just a way to get around the salary cap.

[trotski_tgwu]

difference between kevin penny and dwain chambers is that kevin penny can catch a ball even under pressure, dwain dropped a batton in relay a few year back.

And catching a baton when sprinting at 80% full speed without looking and in the World Championships isn't pressure?
I think if he had come to RL at 27 he would have had a good chance of making it, I don't think he's got enough time to learn the game though.
Still, I am keen to see how he goes on and part of me hopes he succeeds. He may be an asset or he may flop, whatever his reasons for trying it, you've got to give him at least a bit of respect for having a go at arguably the toughest team sport in the world.
Time will tell.

Nope he is a drugs cheat plain and simple WHAT kind of message doese that sent out to the young kids who look up to the players & want to emulate them?

[Sutty]

Would that be the same sort of drug cheat as Ryan Hudson of Huddersfield, Richie Barnett and allegedly Kieron Cunningham? Not to mention Dave Allen and numerous other players who have been caught, and the probably countless players who have got away with it. What about the players with criminal records, Jon Clarke served time for GBH. What if Feka is proved guilty?

I know what you are saying about there being no place in society or sport for drugs and I whole heartedly agree, but these people made mistakes and had to pay the price. Do you not believe in second chances? Is a car thief always a car thief? Is a drug user always a drug user? I think not, what about the amount of reformed characters that we have in the public eye these days? If he is willing to publicly denounce drugs then he is sending some sort of correct message. "look at me, I took steroids. I got caught and paid the price and it has ruined my athletics career and possibly my life. So drugs are not the way forward". What better person to preach against the abuse of drugs than someone who has lost a hell of a lot because of it?

I'm not getting drawn into whether or not he will make it or if it is a completely hair brained idea by Cas. But what I am saying is that he has served his penance and if willing could become a good ambassador for an anti drugs campaign.

I'm just trying to look at the bigger picture and be a bit more objective rather than sticking with "once a drugs cheat, always a drugs cheat". Society shouldn't work like that. If no one was ever given a second chance for a crime they committed, society would be in a heck of a worse state than it is at present, and it's bad enough now.

[cpwigan]

:conf: His past misdemeanours re drugs have to be forgotten. He has served his punishment. However, if he treats it as a publicity stunt then it comes back upon him.

What is more ludicrous is if Cas treat it as such and throwing him into a SL match is just that and totally unprofessional. That for me damages the sport even more. It treats the game as a circus act.

[butt monkey]

What is more ludicrous is if Cas treat it as such and throwing him into a SL match is just that and totally unprofessional. That for me damages the sport even more. It treats the game as a circus act.

With Stuart Cummings as Head Ringmaster!

[Doveoverdave]

We are a laughing yet again.

Can you imagine ANY other sport were they would pick up a guy of the street that has never played their game, doesn't even know the number of people that constitutes a team and then contemplate throwing that person into a game against one of the best teams in the world?

Could you imagine him playing Premiership football for Derby having never kicked a ball and making his debut against Manchester Unitied?

Only this is different, we (RFL) have a responsibility for this man's safety. He may literally get killed. He has no idea of tackle techniques and how to defend/protect himself when being tackled. For heavens sake the RFU will not let experienced forwards into the front row of a competitve scrum because of the inherent dangers!!

It sends out the message that the game is of little skill and that there is little to fear in being injured. Mind you he could always try boxing, no he couldn,t because he would have to gain a licence to protect the sport and himself.

[Lil Feka's Dad]

Saw the Boots 'n' All interview. Loved the bit where Stevo gave him some advice "Get some headgear".

Does this mean that Stevo now thinks that the Mathers tackle is part and parcel of the game? Well I suppose it was King's fault for being so silly as to have his head there in the first place.

[ancientnloyal]

Why is everybody having a go at his drugs past? as everyone has mentioned there are plenty of league players currently playing who have done the same thing and nobody is batting an eye lid.

Give the guy a break, he is trying, thats all he can do and good luck to him. The only problem i will have is the Athletics side coming into play coming upto summer and chambers then using rugby league 'to get by'. He needs 100% commitment to our sport.





Also, that old question: "who is the fastest player ever to play rugby?" may finally be answered once and for all... there goes Skerrett from the top of my list