Terry Newton's last captain has stated that the RFL should be doing more to warn players of the dangers of drugs and depression.
Newton's former captain says players should be supported more
Terry Newton's last captain has stated that the Rugby Football League should be doing more to warn players of the dangers of drugs and depression.
Jason Demetriou was Newton's skipper for the two games he played for Wakefield before being suspended after testing positive for human growth hormone.
The former Great Britain international was found hanged at his home in Orrell on Sunday, seven months after being given a two-year ban for the offence.
Newton was thought to be suffering from depression and the RFL have denied they abandoned him after he was suspended.
But Demetriou says the League's information packs on counselling and drugs are often disregarded by the players.
"The RFL definitely need to do more. You get given a booklet and told to take it home and read it, but it's jargon to be honest," he said.
"A lot of players just throw it in the bin as soon as they get out of the changing room.
Counselling
"In terms of counselling, I know that it is offered but I'm not sure that it's followed up as good as it could be.
"Terry was somebody who had suffered over the last couple of years over the loss of his sister and was known to be depressed.
"I don't really know what the RFL did in terms of supporting him so it's hard to say they didn't do enough, but it appears they could have done a bit more."
Newton admitted he had doped in an attempt to revive his career after switching to Wakefield from Bradford before the 2010 season.
Demetriou hopes Newton's story will provide a deterrent for any other players who may consider using performance enhancing drugs.
He added: "I hope that anybody thinking of taking these sort of drugs realises the impact it has on not just your life but your family's life.
"I'm pretty sure that's something Terry struggled to deal with and unfortunately he paid too big a price. Hopefully people can remember him for the great career that he had rather than the fact he was banned."
