For so long Cullen insisted that he paid no attention to Rumours, gossip and internet forums.

Last night i couldn't believe my eyes and ears as Cullen appeared on boots'n'all, not only acknowledging rumours but actively spreading them.

To me he seemed to be venting alot of anger and resentment that has been eating him up inside for quite a while. I just wonder whether his outburst last night was anything to do with what occurred during his time as coach at the wolves. We have all no doubt heard the rumours surrounding certain players and also the recommendations that Cullen made to the Warrington board of directors (which were apparantly ignored). His comments last night seemed to confirm that these stories may have held some truth after all.

I like Cullen alot and agreed with everything he said. It is indeed time that the cheats in RL are exposed and dispatched into obscurity. The RFL need to have a zero tolerance policy.

His coaching credentials may be not the best around but he is as honest as the day is long and what i always liked about him was he said it the was it is.
so in this respect i also agree with the pprevious posters comments.

I thought Paul Cullen came across well last night, he spoke with a lot of passion and obvious anger that our game could be rife with this sort of thing. He obviously wants a zero tolerance approach to any kind of drug use in RL at all levels, he made a good point about his kids playing the game and trying to protect them from this sort of thing because how many amatuers especially in their teens could be tempted to try and get an illegal edge by using prohibited substances to gain a professional career ?

I think any new intake into scholarship schemes and youth set ups at professional clubs should be tested on a regular basis as this way they wouldn`t be able to hide anything that may have got them this far in the game, it just sends out the right message that the only way you will make it to a professional club is by your talent and effort alone.

Less than two weeks in and Cullens Pants/Natters reverts to type.

Care to explain the bit highlighted because its certainly news to me.

Last year on boots'n'all (fairly early on in the season when lowes was still in charge) when eddie questioned Cullen about warringtons predicament, Cullen went on record saying that he had made as many recommendations to the warrington board as he cared to make when he was there. He then made some further comment which suggested that his recommendations had been dismissed. Reading between the lines at the time it seemed that it was for that reason he decided to exit the club.

In my opinion and I stress my opinion, Culllen wanted certain things to happen but the board failed to back him and he walked. I have heard bits and pieces about what he wanted to happen but for obvious reasons im not going to discuss them on here.

Everyone knows all about the rumoured problems at the club during Cullens reign and probably before. Lets not stick our heads in the sand and believe everything was rosey.

Cullens passion last night struck a chord with me and gave some insight into alot of things that have happened or supposed to have happened over the years.

I guess this all falls down on the fundamental flaw that Cullen was sacked.

Oh really, why was it that the official line from the club was that he left by mutual consent?

Its strange Cullens Pants/Natters/Brucey that you claim to know everything but in reality all you know are the "ale-house" rumours.

Didn't you have a family member employed by teh club at one stage, as well as the contact at Headingley who confirmed the Sinfield signing for Warrington story.

I also seem to recall you wanting rid of Harrison because he was on compassionate leave - that would have been a really good move.

Also suprising that you now know all these things about Paul Cullen and club yet when he was given compassionate leave when his wife was first diagnosed with cancer you was one of the ring-leaders spreading the vile rumours making all sorts of allegations about Cullen's private life.

Stick to your ale-house rumours Cullens Pants/Natters/Brucey its your level.

ale house rumours are always the best rumours, true or otherwise. even better than the taxi driver rumours.

nothing will ever stop ale house rumours, not even supreme beings like you Paul.

According to Sky Sports text the RFL have asked Paul Cullen to explain his claims on boots 'n all that Terry Newtons case is only "the tip of the iceberg"

Until common sense prevails, you're annoyingly correct

I read the quotes from Spence on there. Maybe I should ask him to explain why an increase of 628 drug tests to "maybe 650" is deemed to be enough.

Prevention should be the way to go. A lifetime ban from premier RL competitions should prevent all but the dumbest of players from taking the drugs route.

Would be interesting to know more of Cullens thoughts.

I hope he was referring more to recreational drug use rather than performance enhancing.

I'm not condoning recreational drugs, but they are rife in society and I personally would not be surprised if more young players have been taking cocaine than just Hock.

This isn't meant to be a dig at rugby players but more a sad view of society in general.

Recreational drugs are far far more prevalent in society than most people like to acknowledge, I reckon more people are doing them than aren't, especially people who are in successful careers. Everyone that works in the City is on coke, they snort taxpayers money up their nose every night to show their gratitude for the bail outs.

Maybe the law should start acting and bang people up for using recreational drugs, whether or not you have intention to supply.You get a custodial sentence if you've been looking at kiddie porn on the internet, because they are trying to kill the industry by punishing the user....so why not do the same with drugs?

Bang on Sally - without meaning to go too off topics successive governments go on about the war on drugs - if they're serious start targeting demand rather than just supply and it will soon reduce.

I also think you're probably right on the more do than don't - certainly amongst younger generations.

A slight stereotype on the city front though!

i tataly agree with what is said and we should get rid of them full stop
well done to cullen for saying what he did

Officially PC was supposed to have offered his resignation after the Castleford game which was initially refused but then both parties agreed to separate by mutual consent. Do you know better?

I have thought for a while now that teams should do there own drug testing on top of the official tests to catch drug users before the player and club are embaressed. I got one done in 5 minutes for a job interview, surely it can't be that difficult

Depends on how to test. Most employers that test do it through urine. It gives an instant resuly and also allows a sample to be sent to a laboratort for thorough analysis if necessary.

On Boots N All they mentioned about testing through blood. This is highly unusual and the most expensive way of doing it. Also there are debates on whether this is legal as it is an invasive procedure and involves puncturing the skin. I assume the RFL have this written into players contracts, otherwise they could be open to all sorts of law suits.

Putting it into context. Testing is a bloody expensive excercise. Clubs doing it themselves puts the control for taking the tests away from the RFL & is open to potential abuse from clubs.

The current rate for testing makes RL teh 3rd highest tested sport there is (after football & athletics).

The RFL have got this right. The proposed testing levels (600+) spread over 28 rounds means the RFL will turn up at each game, randomly test 4 players from both teams playing. Not tell you who - just randomly test 4.

That should be enough to frighten players into behaving. Those that don;t deserve all they get.

Malcolm Alker said on GMR last night that on average he is tested about four or five times a year.

That is quite a lot of tests and I would suggest only the stupid would try to cheat and only the lucky get a way with it.

In my own opinion recreational and performance enhancing drugs should betreated separately. I like the "Hamsterdam" model from Baltimore.

Fo' sho. Where would we set that scheme up? There's a few potential sites around the region where there'd be very little socio-economic impact. Can just see Hock shuffling down the street with a shopping trolley, touting his whiteys...

Oh dear you've just been sallied

How is this stat derived, is it on total number of tests thoughout the sport or as a percentage relative to number of players? Just curious as obviously there are far more people playing professional soccer than rugby league.

On the point of blood tests being "invasive" I don't think it is illegal or against anyone's rights - they did em at the Beijing Olympics. Also, where I work, we are subject to random urine tests. Fail one and you have to pay for a blood test to be carried out if you want a chance of keeping your job, think it's about 70 quid.

Cull raised the point about Growth Hormone on B'n'A, it's a fact that this performance enhancer is very hard to test for and I'm almost certain that urine tests can't detect it.
Thought Carney was a little too reserved on the programme but Cull more than made up for it with his passionate rants. VERY good prog this week