Drugs bombshell as ex-NRL star admits snorting cocaine on Mad Monday
A former NRL star has been forced to make a bombshell admission in a civil court case in which he’s been accused of raping his ex-wife.
Ex-NRL star Michael Jennings has admitted in court taking cocaine on four occasions during Mad Monday celebrations, including following the Sydney Roosters’ 2013 grand final win.
The former Origin flyer and NRL premiership winner told the NSW District Court on Tuesday that he had taken the drugs while partying with teammates during end-of-season celebrations in 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016.
He also disclosed that he had tested positive during an NRL illicit drugs test in 2016 while at the Parramatta Eels, however it was kept secret until now.
The 33-year-old dropped the revelations as he fights back against his former wife who is seeking damage for personal injuries and accused him of raping her during their relationship.
Mr Jennings is defending the civil proceedings and during his testimony has denied accusations that he raped Kirra Michelle Wilden “five or six times” between October 2014 and early 2016 before they separated in March that year.
Mr Jennings has never been charged by police.
In Ms Wilden’s statement of claim, she also accused him of verbally abusing her, regularly drinking excessively and taking drugs.
The court heard that Ms Wilden had alleged she found small plastic containers with white powder residue in his trousers while doing his washing throughout their relationship.
He denied the allegation he was a recreational drug user but told Judge David Wilson that he did cocaine on four occasions - all of which occurred on Mad Monday following his side’s last game of the season.
They occurred while he was at the Sydney Roosters in 2013 - the year of their grand final victory over Manly - in 2014 and 2015 as well as his first year at Parramatta in 2016.
Asked by his barrister the circumstances in which he consumed drugs, Mr Jennings said: “On four occasions during the relationship, in 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016, and under the circumstances it was the last game of the season and it was on a Mad Monday celebration.”
He admitted to consuming cocaine but said he never purchased the drugs.
“At the party that we were celebrating at, mates usually or someone provided it at the party,” he told the court.
Mr Jennings also revealed that he had received a first strike under the NRL’s illicit drugs policy after returning a positive result for cocaine in September 2016 following Mad Monday celebrations with Eels teammates.
Under the NRL’s policy, the first strike is kept confidential and the player is forced to undergo counselling.
Mr Jennings said that it was the only time he tested positive to recreational drugs during his career.
He denied that he drank excessively during his relationship with Ms Wilden,which began in 2010, saying he would go through long periods of abstinence in the NRL pre-season and during the season he would sometimes drink after games.
The court was read a text exchange between the pair from New Year’s Eve 2013 in which Ms Wilden described an incident in which she claimed Mr Jennings got drunk, punched a car, set his leg hair on fire, volleyed an expletive-laden tirade at her and broke off their relationship.
Mr Jennings told the court he couldn’t remember the incident.
“Don’t call me a f****** c*** and tell me I’m ruining your life and think it’s okay,” she said in the text which was read to the court.
“Don’t message me.”
Mr Jennings replied via text: “When did I say that?”
Ms Wilden continued: “Last night. I’m over it, I’m not putting up with it anymore.
“You were acting crazy, punching the car and burning your leg hair off.
“I’m not putting up with it.”
Ms Wilden’s barrister Jeremy Morris attempted to argue that Mr Jennings was prone to getting “wasted” and becoming aggressive.
However, Mr Jennings maintained he did not have a problem with alcohol.
“Excessive alcohol made you angry from time to time,” Mr Morris said.
“No,” Mr Jennings replied.
During his evidence, he maintained that the sexual assaults “never occurred”.
The court heard on Monday that Ms Wilden first made the claims of rape while speaking to a psychiatrist at the urging of her then lawyer in 2018.
Mr Jennings recalled that he was at training in March 2019 when he was informed about the rape allegations after Ms Wilden’s lawyer rang his solicitor.
“It was the first time I had heard of any sexual allegations against me,” Mr Jennings said.
He said that after learning of the allegation, he wanted to speak to police and did so later in 2020.
Asked about the details of his complaint to police about Ms Wilden, he said: “Extortion.”
The former NSW and Australian centre was suspended by the NRL in October after returning a positive test for performance-enhancing substances Ibutamoren and Ligandrol.
He agreed in May to walk away from the final 18 months of his contract, which was worth a reported $400,000 per year.
The hearing continues on Wednesday.
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