Pubdate: Sun, 6 Dec 1998
Source: Sun Herald (Australia)
Page: 134
Contact:  http://www.sunherald.fairfax.com.au/
Copyright: 1998 John Fairfax Holdings Ltd
Author: Danny Weidler

BEARS TO HELP TROUBLED STAR

NORTH Sydney officials yesterday vowed they would not walk away from
drug-troubled star Matt Seers.

Bears chief executive Bob Saunders said the club would do everything
possible to help Seers recover.

Saunders said that after noticing changes Seers' behaviour, a
heart-to-heart with the fullback led to the player's plea for help.

"We talked for two or three says about his condition," Saunders said.
"After we had some long talks he just said: 'I need help.'  From talking to
his doctos, that is half the battle, acknowledging that you have got a
problem.

"He is such a fantastic kid.  Polite beyond belief, but we just started to
notice little changes in his behaviour.

"But he has been making very good progress and we are confident that he can
make it back."

Norths president Ray Beattie said the club sought out the best medical
treatment for Seers when it became clear he had a problem with drugs.

"Matt's family has been right behind him and Bob Saunders has been by his
side like a second father," Beattie said.  "This is a very sensitive issue
for Matt and he is at a critical time.  We are deeply concerned for him.

"Unfortunately, Matt's problem is symptomatic of the society we live in.
He is not the only person out there who has problems with drugs. We are
going to give him every opportunity to improve, and the club is right
behind him."

Teammates and players throughout Sydney have been talking about Seers'
plight for much of the off-season.

On several occasions The Sun Herald has been tipped that he had tested
positive to hard-core recreational drugs but each time it was denied by
Norths management.

"When you guys called us and we denied he had tested positive, we were not
lying," Saunders said.

"He has been tested four or five times this year and on each occasion has
come up negative.

"We weren't sure what was wrong with him, but after sitting down and having
some serious discussions it became clear."

The Sun Herald had been told that Seers would take 12 months off football,
but Saunders said it was possible the exciting back would be back at
training within two weeks if his doctors gave him clearance.

"We are being totally guided by his doctors and we will not rush him back,"
he said.  "It has been a very hard time for Matt, but he is pulling through
well."

Seers has been through a traumatic year off the field after a split from
his girlfriend turned nasty, and he has been a regular on the Oxford Street
party scene.

It has been suggested that other players introduced him to drugs and he
soon began spending thousands of dollars on his habit.

Seers is far from alone in his use of "party drugs".  The widespread use of
recreational drugs among league players may lead to an even larger
crackdown.

Spiralling player wages as a result of the Super League war, and plenty of
spare time because they are now full-time sportsmen have fuelled the use of
cocaine and ecstasy among league players, especially the rising stars.
Seers is believed to be on a $300,000-a-year deal.

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