Listen to the full interview via the podcast
On April 28th, Ryan Tandy was found dead at his parent's house in New South Wales, reportedly as the result of a drug overdose.
Once an Ireland Rugby League international, the 32-year-old had suffered a swift fall from grace after being found guilty of match-fixing in Australia.
Tonight we were joined by Daily Telegraph writer Josh Massoud to discuss how Tandy's career and life spiraled out of control.
Having played in Australia and England, before ending his career in Australia, eventually joining Cantebury-Bankstown Bulldogs in 2010.
"It was at that point in his career that he struck a bit of controversy and ended up becoming the first Australian sportsperson to be convicted of match-fixing over a penalty goal that was supposedly concocted to trigger a 30,000 plus windfall. Ryan Tandy gave away a penalty right in front of the post and the court here in Sydney decided that it was for fraudulent purposes," said Massood, adding that Tandy had had to bear much public stigma in a sports-obsessed country following his conviction.
"Ryan Tandy definitely felt the brunt of that," said Massood, who explained how Tandy became addicted to gambling.
The New South Wales-born prop lost his father at a young age and by his teens he was gambling heavily.
"When he was making his way through the ranks, he had to have part of his salary quarantined to pay his rent, food and meals," Massood revealed, saying that Tandy "lived his entire life as a gambler."
But even beyond Tandy, sports gambling is a major problem in Aussie sport according to Massood and that a cry for help can often be seen as a weakness, adding that even those closest to Tandy were aware of the extent of his problems.
After his lifetime ban, Tandy attempted to work his way back into Rugby League in his final years and although he played some games in France, things went from bad to worse as he faced kidnapping charges and Massood explained how he became addicted to the prescription drugs that would lead to his death at the age of 32.
Massood, who knew Tandy, explained what the real man was like, painting a positive picture of a person who was likeable. Listen to the full interview via the podcast.
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