Wendell Sailor

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Wendell Sailor
Personal information
Full name Wendell Jermaine Sailor
Date of birth 16 July 1974 (1974-07-16) (age 33)
Place of birth Sarina, Queensland, Australia
Height 192 cm (6 ft 4 in)
Weight 106 kg (16 st 10 lb)
Nickname Dell
Notable relative(s)    Josh Hoffman
Rugby league career
Position Wing
Professional clubs Caps (points)
1993–2001
1999
2008–   		 Brisbane
Leeds
St. George		 189

1		 (442)

(0)
State of Origin
1996–2001
1997   		 Queensland
Queensland (SL)		 17
3		 (8)
(4)
National teams
1994–2001    Australia 15 (44)
Rugby union career
Playing career
Position Wing
Super Rugby Caps (points)
2002–2005
2006		 Queensland Reds
NSW Waratahs		 47
8		 (60)
(20)
National team(s)    
2003–2006 Australia 37 (65)

Wendell Jermaine Sailor (born 16 July 1974 in Sarina, Queensland) is an Australian professional rugby football player who has represented his country in both rugby league and rugby union - a dual code international. He is an Australian Torres Strait Islander.

Sailor's large frame and bullocking style changed the way wingers played rugby league in the late nineties. His big-money move from the Brisbane Broncos to the Queensland Reds in 2001 created many headlines, as did his move at the end of the 2005 Super 12 season to the New South Wales Waratahs. He has often attracted public attention during his career none more so then in 2006 after he was found to have used cocaine before a football match. This put an end to his rugby union career as he received a two year suspension from all sports. He returned to rugby league in May of 2008 with the NRL club St George Illawarra Dragons for the 2008 season once his ban from all forms of professional sport expired.[1]

Contents

[edit] Playing career

[edit] 1993 - 2001 (Rugby League)

Australia 1994-2000: 11 Tests – 7t (28pts)
Australia (SL) 1997: 5 Tests – 4t (16pts)
Queensland (SOO) 1996-01) 14 games – 1t (4pts)
Queensland (SL Tri-Series) 1997: 3 games – 1t (4pts)
Brisbane Broncos 1993-2001: 189 games - 110t, 1g (442pts)

In his inaugural year for the Brisbane Broncos, Sailor played in a handful of games, scoring three tries in his first season,[1] though Sailor had limited involvement that year, the club won the premiership, defeating the St. George Dragons 14-6. After his impressive debut season, he won the Rookie of the Year award at the Broncos club.

The following season he took part in more games, scoring 14 tries.[2] Such a rapid improvement over the course of two seasons saw Sailor become a regular in the Broncos ranks. At the end of the 1994 season he was selected for the Kangaroo Tour of Europe, playing in the opening fixture against a Cumbrian side where he scored two tries. He then started off the bench in a warm up match against Leeds, before earning a starting wing spot in the next match against Wigan and then playing off the bench again against Castleford. Sailor was again promoted to a starting wing position for the match against Halifax, scoring two tries. He then earned his first Test cap against Great Britain, as a starting wing in their loss at Wembley Stadium in late October.[3]

He quickly became a home crowd favourite in Brisbane because of his speed and power and would soon become a household name in the rugby league world. Following the defection of the Brisbane Broncos to Super League, Wendell had a stellar year in the rebel competition. He was the top try-scorer for the Broncos and helped them win the premiership, defeating the Cronulla Sharks 26-8 in the final. That same year the Broncos won the World Club Challenge.

After the Super League war ended, the Broncos won the inaugural competition of the National Rugby League, defeating the Canterbury Bulldogs 38-12 in the grand final. Sailor spent the Australian summer in England, playing union for Leeds Tykes, scoring 15 tries in 13 games; he also appeared in two of the Leeds Rhinos trial games.[4] In 1999 Sailor put in a man-of-the-match performance in the deciding match of the State of Origin which saw Queensland retain the shield.

A year later Sailor was again the Broncos' top try-scorer (along with Lote Tuqiri) as well as a premiership winning man, the Broncos taking the 2000 title, defeating the Sydney Roosters 14-6. That year he won the Best Back award and the Player of the Year award at the Brisbane Broncos as well as being awarded the Australian Sports Medal for his contribution to Australia's international standing in the sport of rugby league.

More success followed for Sailor as he traveled to the Europe to compete in the 2000 Rugby League World Cup for Australia. He finished as the tournament's top try-scorer as well as boasting two tries in the defeat of the Kiwis in the final. He was named best player of the tournament. Following the victory, Kangaroo coach Chris Anderson stated that "he's up there with Eric Grothe among the best of all time".

Following the World Cup, many speculated that Sailor, who was off contract with the Broncos the following year, would sign for an English club in the English Super League competition, as many Australian rugby league stars do. Talks apparently began with leading English clubs Wigan, Leeds and Bradford.[5] However the ARU were able to put up the funds to lure him to rugby union.

The big man changed the way the position of winger was traditionally played in Rugby League. His large frame allowed him to come in and take more numerous and effective hit-ups, relieving some of the pressure on his forward pack. This proved invaluable in many Broncos' games he played in. When Lote Tuqiri, another large, mobile winger joined Sailor as partner on the other wing, they made the Broncos a nightmare to defend against. Sailor is one of a handful of elite players to score over 100 tries for the club. He is also the record co-holder of most tries in a Broncos match, with four.

[edit] 2001 - 2006 (Rugby Union)

Sailor shocked the Australian sports world on February 7, 2001, when it was announced by the Australian Rugby Union that they had reached an agreement with Rugby league superstar Wendell Sailor regarding a switch to Rugby union. Sailor signed a letter of intent with the ARU in February as well as signing with the Queensland Reds. The deal was formally completed in July, with Sailor set to leave League on the first day of November.[6] Sailor scored his first try in the Super 12 in his seventh match, where he scored twice and narrowly missed out on a hat-trick.

He made his Wallaby debut with Mat Rogers in a Test match against France in June 2002. Collectively at that point they became the 41st and 42nd Australian dual code internationals. Sailor then released his book, Crossing Over which details the troubles he had in changing codes and describes the differences between the two. The following season he thrived and showed that he had made some good adaptations to his new game.[2]

In 2003 he was selected for the Wallabies to participate in the World Cup. He played in the opening match between Australia and Argentina, where he scored the first try of the 2003 RWC in front of 81,350 at Telstra Stadium. After the win over Argentina, Sailor retained his position on the wing and was part of the 90 to 8 win against Romania. Sailor along with several other players were rested for the match against Namibia. Sailor returned to his position on the wing for wins over Ireland, Scotland and New Zealand. Australia finished runners-up to England in the World Cup.

Sailor came off contract with the Reds after the 2005 Super 12 season, media speculated that he would either move to Japan or sign with new franchise Western Force. However, he signed with the New South Wales Waratahs to play in the 2006 season. The Waratahs won the opening game of the 2006 season at Suncorp Stadium against Queensland.

[edit] 2006

Sailor was involved in a controversy in a trip to South Africa, whilst injured, he had a confrontation with a patron in a pub. He was suspended for a number of matches, but returned in round six, scoring two tries in the win over fellow Australian team, the Western Force.

On May 13, 2006, hours before the final pool match of the Super 14 competition, it was announced that Sailor was to be suspended indefinitely from representing either the NSW Waratahs or Australian Rugby Team after returning a positive drug test for cocaine and anabolic steroids. Sailor's manager confirmed in a statement it was a doping offence.[7] The NSW Waratahs went on to lose a tight game against the Wellington Hurricanes, ensuring the Super 14 semi-final would be held in Wellington. Sailor's absence was noted at the semi final, with the Eric Clapton hit "Cocaine" cheekily played over the public address system during a stoppage in play. The NSW Waratahs lost the game.

After WADA (World Anti-Doping Agency) tests confirmed that Sailor's urine 'A' sample from the pre-match test had contained indicators of cocaine, Sailor chose to have the second half of his sample retested. The second test results were not published to the media within the timeframe expected, leading to speculation that Sailor's 'B' sample had proved inconclusive or been mishandled, thereby providing an opportunity for appeal[8]. Eventually the 'B' sample results were announced, and proved to be positive.

The ASADA (Australian Sports Anti-Doping Agency) immediately banned Sailor from competitive sport within Australia for 2 years. In an attempt to get the ban overturned or reduced, Sailor made an appeal to the ARU Judicial Body, asserting that he had not ingested cocaine within the 96 hours prior to the urine sample being taken. He further argued that he received no performance-enhancing benefits from cocaine, and that the clear scientific evidence is that cocaine is a short-acting stimulant that has effect for no more than two hours at most and that neither it nor its metabolites could have any performance enhancing benefit if taken more than 96 hours before a match.[9]

Sailor claimed that because of the time lapse of more than four days, the cocaine could not be deemed as used "in competition", and so was not a prohibited substance.

When quizzed by the ARU Judiciary, Sailor admitted that during previous drug tests he had received anti-doping information cards which carry the warning that all elite athletes are responsible for any banned substance in their system. When asked whether he was aware that cocaine is a banned substance, he confirmed that he was. The ARU upheld that whether Sailor considered the substance performance-enhancing or not, Sailor was aware that cocaine was a banned substance at the time of ingestion, and refused to reduce or overturn the ban.[10]

On the 23rd of July, Sailor penned a column in the Sydney Sunday Telegraph explaining his actions and apologising to his fans and family, the first public confession or apology he made since the incident came to light.[11]

Sailor's dramatic exit from rugby union was as controversial and well-publicised as his transfer from rugby league. His supporters still claim his onfield genius in both attack and defence is needed within Australian Rugby, and that he is an honourable, big-hearted, generous man with a lot to bring to the sport, who made an error of judgement and was heavily punished for it by the ARU. His detractors point to a chequered past involving numerous on- and off-field indiscretions, and a lack of common sense coupled with a big ego. Either way, he will be long remembered as one of the most controversial sportsmen in Australia.

[edit] 2007 - present (Return to Rugby League)

Speaking to a Sydney radio station in March 2007, Wendell stated he did not intend to let his career end in drug shame and that a number of NRL clubs have approached him in talks for his services once his ban ends in April 2008.[12] He would not disclose which clubs had approached him. Although it has been heavily speculated that Sailor is linked to NRL Club The South Sydney Rabbitohs and has been seen sporting a club cap as well sighted with owner and actor Russell Crowe. Now, however, it appears that Sailor will join the St George Illawarra Dragons when his drug ban ends in April 2008, on a contract.

In carrying out his ban, Sailor has been heavily involved in charity work and alcohol and drug awareness programs with young people in an attempt to make amends for his actions.[citation needed] He also does corporate work as a public speaker.[citation needed]

Since his exit from rugby union, Sailor has also appeared on Dancing with the Stars. In addition, he has provided NRL commentary for Channel Nine, further indicating his renewed interest in rugby league.

In June 2007, Sailor reported that he will be joining the St George Illawarra Dragons on a two-year incentive based contract. Many former NRL players have supported the move, believing that Sailor will have a positive impact on the young Dragons squad. It has been suggested that Sailor will likely play in the second row to utilise his size and strength upon his return to the NRL. As of Monday 12 May, Sailor is an official player for the St. George Illawarra Dragons.[3]

In May the Dragons announced that Sailor would be playing for the Shellharbour Marlins (Dragons feeder team) in the NSW Cup before making his NRL return. On May 17, he scored two tries for Shellharbour playing on the wing at Ron Costello Oval. He played there for a further two weeks before moving up to the Dragons full-time. On June 6, on the weekend preceding State of Origin game two, he got his chance to make his comeback in a depleted Dragons lineup against his former club, the Brisbane Broncos. Sailor only played in the first half of the match as he suffered a fractured cheekbone whilst making a tackle. He is expected to be out for four weeks.

[edit] References

  1. ^ Sailor fights to get fight for Dragons return. Daily Telegraph (2008-02-03). Retrieved on 2007-02-04.
  2. ^ >Don’t Look Back in Anger. www.theroar.com.au.
  3. ^ Dragons chance for Sailor. Fox Sports (2008-05-12). Retrieved on 2008-05-12.

[edit] External links


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