Former NRL player Julian O’Neill Opens Up About Notorious Poo Scandal
Former Maroons fullback Julian O’Neill has finally broken his silence around the infamous poo scandal, 25 years later.
O’Neill is infamously known for an incident during a 1999 pre-season trip with the South Sydney Rabbitohs, where an unsuspecting shoe was defaced by the former NRL bad boy. This shoe ended up belonging to teammate Jeremy Schloss.
The Revelation
This led to O’Neill notoriously declaring: “I just shat in Schlossy’s shoe,” in the early hours of a cold Dubbo morning. The 51-year-old has finally lifted the lid on the scandal on Andy Raymond’s Unfiltered podcast, admitting fault but more or less revealing he took the rap for other teammates.
O’Neill’s Reflection
“I extremely regretted my part in the whole incident,” O’Neill said. “It was a prank that went wrong (but) there were a lot of other things that transpired that night. (At that time), with sides being omitted from the ARL and others being included in joint ventures, the best thing to do was close shop. I just shut my mouth and I got (blamed) with most of it. I took everything. I should never have turned down that road in the first place. Everyone can say that in hindsight.”
“It’s better to own up and cop it than running around pointing fingers, which creates more murky water. I never really had a chance to talk about it. That was the state of play back then. I was asked not to (talk publicly) by the club and I didn’t – I kept my end of the bargain.”
The Fallout
In addition to the six-week suspension, O’Neill was also fined $10,000 by the NRL. Interestingly, O’Neill explained how quickly his life changed from being a country boy to living in the bright lights of the city. “It was tough,” he declared. “I still think I was still just a country boy down in the city, and all of a sudden I’m on the back page of the paper. Probably the worst thing, I didn’t really read papers back in the day, so I was always the last one to find out I was in trouble.”
Support from Wayne Bennett
O’Neill also revealed how his first coach and mentor Wayne Bennett helped him through the off-field dramas. “Wayne’s always said to me, if you didn’t do it, you didn’t do it. But, if you did it, it’s better to own up to it. I did it.”
Other Controversies
This wasn’t the only time the 238-game veteran was in the media for all the wrong reasons. He was also accused of urinating at Townsville’s Jupiters Casino, underneath a blackjack table. He was also alleged to have attempted to set fire to a dolphin mascot suit that was being worn by a 13-year-old boy in yet another team trip.
In Conclusion
Julian O’Neill’s revelation about the infamous poo scandal sheds light on the challenges faced by athletes in the spotlight and the importance of taking responsibility for one’s actions. His story serves as a reminder of the consequences of poor decision-making and the impact it can have on one’s career and reputation. It also highlights the significance of mentorship and guidance in navigating difficult situations. Ultimately, O’Neill’s journey serves as a cautionary tale for athletes and individuals alike, emphasizing the importance of accountability and integrity in all aspects of life.