Ex-Roosters Captain John Tobin Breaks Down in Tears After Avoiding Second Prison Stint
Former Sydney Roosters captain John Tobin has broken down in tears while expressing his immense relief at being spared a second prison term for drug-related offences. The emotional moment came after he served eight and a half years behind bars for his involvement in multiple attempts to import a total of 1.4 tonnes of cocaine into Australia by boat.
From Despair to Hope: A Judge's Compassionate Decision
Justice Rebecca Treston declared that sending the 66-year-old, who played lock in the Roosters' 1980 grand final team, back to jail would be "crushing" for him. Instead, Tobin received a suspended sentence, a verdict that left him choked up and feeling fortunate. He had pleaded guilty to nine offences, including supplying drugs and possessing the equivalent of 134 grams of cocaine in 220 grams of substance, crimes that could have easily resulted in a return to prison.
"Mate, I don’t want to go back to jail," Tobin told AAP, reflecting on the judge's decision. "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?'" He added, "It makes me emotional because I just don’t want to go through that again."
A Life Transformed: From Crime to Redemption
Tobin, once a City Firsts representative, described feeling like he had "one foot in the grave" during his incarceration but now sees light at the end of the tunnel. He carries a note pad filled with names of people he "owes", including dozens of former players and teammates, and was overwhelmed when the judge at the Brisbane Supreme Court declared he was "free to go". "Because of all the people that helped, you just can’t thank them enough. It just breaks my heart," he said, referring to friends who covered his motel bills during a six-month wait to face charges from a decade ago.
Admitting his actions were not a mistake but a calculated move driven by financial pursuit, Tobin expressed deep regret. "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," he confessed. Now, he values friendships over wealth, stating, "But now I’d rather have no money and a lot of friends. It’s a trade-off."
Looking Ahead: Faith, Family, and Future Plans
Pledging his future to the church, Tobin, a former electrician and garbage collector, is actively seeking employment and vows to stay out of trouble. "You live and learn," he said, recalling his arrest at gunpoint on Christmas Day 2016 for his first offence. He emphasized distancing himself from criminal circles, noting, "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."
Physically, Tobin has undergone significant changes, dropping from around 95kg during his playing days to 64kg after years of stress and incarceration. Despite this, he feels positive after reconnecting with family since his release last July, which included time in maximum security at Long Bay. He shared updates on his sister's health after a brain operation for Parkinson's and his efforts to reconnect with his two sons, one of whom is not returning his calls.
Advice for Young NRL Stars: A Cautionary Tale
When asked about advice for today's young NRL stars earning high salaries, Tobin expressed doubt they would listen but offered heartfelt guidance. "But if they did, I’d say just be careful. Invest, don’t squander it," he advised. "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." Acknowledging his own flawed path, he added, "But who am I to give advice? I’ve got one son going great, I’ve got another son going terrible." He concluded with a stark warning: "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 mess up like I did."
