Ex-NRL star in limbo on drug charges
Former Gold Coast Titans star Michael Gordon, accused of supplying illicit drugs, faces a nerve-wracking two-week wait to find out if there is any hope of resuming his rugby league coaching dreams.
Michael Gordon and wife Tess leave the Tweed Heads Local Court on the Gold Coast, Tuesday, August 2, 2022. The former Gold Coast Titans NRL specialist coach is on trial for his role in an alleged NSW-Qld border cocaine ring. (AAP Image/Jono Searle)
The 38-year-old was arrested at his Casuarina home in November 2020 as part of a sting targeting cocaine and MDMA supply across the NSW and Queensland border.
Gordon, who played 261 NRL matches before retiring at the end of 2019, was charged with two counts of supplying a prohibited drug and two counts of possessing a prohibited drug.
He has pleaded guilty to possessing cocaine but denied charges of drug supply.
Dressed in a dark blue suit and tie and flanked by wife Tess, the former Blues Origin player appeared in Tweed Local Court on Tuesday for final submissions.
Magistrate Geoff Dunlevy has reserved his decision until Tuesday, August 16.
It was an ignominious end to a playing career that included stints for the Panthers, Sharks, Eels, Roosters and Titans.
Within hours of his arrest, the Titans released a brief statement confirming Gordon would no longer be working with them as a specialist coach.
Gordon’s interim move to a coaching position at the Tweed Coast Raiders was also on hold after the NSW Rugby League insisted the case be finalised.
The couple refused to comment to the waiting media as they left the court.
