‘I’m proud of who I’ve become’: How Naden bounced back from drugs drama
When Brent Naden reflects on how far he has come as a person over the past 12 months, one aspect immediately sticks out.
“The biggest learning is just don’t try to be someone you’re not,” Naden said.
Naden’s career took a fall at the very moment it appeared at the peak of its trajectory, during Penrith’s 2021 grand final appearance. It later emerged that his appearance off the interchange bench, in the game’s showpiece event, was made while he still had cocaine in his system.
The shock revelation resulted in a stint in rehab and a surprisingly short stint on the sidelines. Naden became one of the first athletes in the world to benefit from a change in the WADA code that reduced his sanctions for recreational drugs from two years to just a month. However, the Panthers opted to impose an additional four-game ban of their own, resulting in the three-quarter making just seven appearances – excluding the 2022 grand final – during their premiership season.
The positive test result was an opportunity for Naden, with the help of partner Eden, to address issues that had built up off the field.
“She’s helped me out a lot, she’s kept me on the straight and narrow,” said Naden in his first interview on the subject. “That’s the track I’m on for good.
“I’m proud of myself, I’ve come a long way in 12 months. I’ve overcome a lot of things.”
The pressure of being a professional athlete caught up with Naden, but he believes he is in a better place to deal with his expectations, and those of others, after becoming one of Canterbury’s marquee recruits.
“We’re just in the spotlight a little bit too much,” he said.
Brent Naden is excited about his All Stars debut.
“We’re humans as well, we have emotions.”
While the saga took its toll, the Wellington NSW product – who will become a father for the first time in May – said quitting the NRL was never an option due to the assistance of those closest to him.
“I had a good support network around me,” he said.
“Seeing those guys always happy and so willing to help, I was never going to fold [out of respect] for them.
“There wasn’t a moment after it [that I considered leaving rugby league], no.”
The upcoming season couldn’t have gotten off to a better start. After impressing his new Bulldogs teammates over the summer, Naden got a surprise call-up to the Indigenous All Stars side, as a replacement for Kotoni Staggs.
Fellow Canterbury recruit Josh Addo-Carr – a cousin – broke the news to the 26-year-old during the club’s training camp in Tamworth last Friday.
“I was shocked and excited. I was overcome with all these emotions, I was trying to fight back the tears a little bit,” Naden said.
“It means everything. It’s always been a goal since you start out. Every Indigenous young boy and girl wants to represent their culture, their tribe and their family and their friends in this game.
“It means a lot to me. I know it means a lot to all the boys as well.”
Addo-Carr, named captain of the Indigenous side, is excited about linking up with his new centre partner at club and representative level.
“I’ve never played a game with him before, so what a way to start off [our time together],” Addo-Carr said.
“It goes to show what kind of character he is. He could have crumbled [during the drugs drama] but he rose through it. I see it first hand every day, the way [he] handles himself. He’s a true leader and he just wants the best for himself and his teammates. He deserves the opportunity, I can’t wait to run out with him.”
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