Former Sydney Roosters captain John Tobin has broken down in tears while expressing his profound relief at being spared a second prison term for drug-related crimes. The 66-year-old rugby league veteran, who served eight-and-a-half years behind bars for his involvement in multiple attempts to import 1.4 tonnes of cocaine into Australia by boat, was visibly emotional as he detailed his gratitude for avoiding further incarceration.
Avoiding a 'Crushing' Return to Prison
Justice Rebecca Treston of the Brisbane Supreme Court declared that sending Tobin back to jail would be 'crushing' for the former Roosters' 1980 grand final lock. Instead of imposing another prison sentence, she handed down a suspended sentence, leaving Tobin choked up and counting his lucky stars as he walked free from court.
The one-time City Firsts representative had pleaded guilty to nine offences, including supplying drugs and possessing the equivalent of 134 grams of cocaine contained in 220 grams of substance. He acknowledged that he could easily have been returned to prison for these crimes.
Emotional Courtroom Moment
'Mate, I don't want to go back to jail,' Tobin told AAP, unable to contain his emotions. 'The judge gave me a pretty good go. She looked at me and thought: 'Well, do I want to put this bloke back in jail or do I not? What's the benefit of putting him back in jail for 12 months?''
'But there is a benefit. Just say: 'Well, mate, f***ing wake up to yourself'. It makes me emotional because I just don't want to go through that again.'
Carrying a notepad with a full page of names of people he 'owes', including dozens of former players and teammates, Tobin said it hit like a sledgehammer when Justice Treston declared he was 'free to go'.
Reflecting on Past Mistakes
'Because of all the people that helped, you just can't thank them enough. It just breaks my heart,' he said of the mates who picked up his motel bills while he waited six months to face the music in January for decade-old charges.
'I made a silly mistake. Actually, it wasn't a mistake. It was a calculated move on my behalf. Trying to chase money, and I did have money at one stage and I lost it all, but then I did something very stupid and I regret it. But now I'd rather have no money and a lot of friends. It's a trade-off.'
Physical and Emotional Toll
The former electrician and garbage collector, who now believes his future lies in the church, has experienced significant physical changes since his playing days. Weighing around 95 kilograms during his rugby career, Tobin is now down to just 64 kilograms after almost a decade of stress and incarceration.
Despite this dramatic weight loss, he says he still 'feels good' after reconnecting with family following his release last July from various prison stays, including the first three-and-a-half years in maximum security at Long Bay.
Family Connections and Future Plans
'My sister's a bit crook, but she's OK. She's just had a brain operation,' Tobin revealed. 'She had Parkinson's and they tapped into her brain so that's released all the pressure off her brain, so she can do things now and I see a bit of her. My (two) boys, I'm still trying to get in contact with.'
Now on the lookout for employment, the former sports star said he'd 'do anything' while promising to stay out of trouble. 'You live and learn,' said Tobin, who was captured by police at gunpoint for his first offence on Christmas Day 2016.
Advice for Current NRL Stars
When asked what message he would give to today's young NRL stars enjoying substantial salaries, Tobin expressed doubt that 'they'd listen to an old bloke' but offered heartfelt advice nonetheless.
'But if they did, I'd say just be careful. Invest, don't squander it,' he urged. 'The first thing you do is buy a house and look after your family. That's the first thing you do. Then the rest, once you've got that, you're right.'
'But who am I to give advice? I've got one son going great, I've got another son going f***ing terrible. But these rugby league players, these kids, they're a different breed. They can earn a squillion a year, I don't care, good luck to them. But just don't squander it. And definitely don't f*** up like I did.'
Moving Forward with Caution
Tobin emphasized his determination to stay on the right side of the law moving forward. 'I know a lot of crooks but they're on that side of the fence and, see, I'm on this side. So you can always be friendly with everyone, but just don't mix in that circle again.'
From feeling like he had 'one foot in the grave' during his previous incarceration, the former rugby league captain can finally see light at the end of the tunnel, grateful for his second chance and determined to make the most of his freedom.
