Flanagan has been in the spotlight after accusations he knew exactly what the players were taking. He told this column last week he did not know about the supplements regime. Asked about Flanagan, Dank said: "Shane Flanagan wouldn't know the difference between a high tide and a peptide." Dank has previously described Flanagan as a "meat-and-potatoes" coach – implying that he was not familiar with the science Dank was using. Flanagan has all but served his time. Essendon coach James Hird last week walked back into his AFL club. This column is unaware of the evidence linking Flanagan to the supplements regime, apart from one interview Elkin gave in which he threw Flanagan into the mix. What I have seen are dozens of texts between Hird and Dank that go into detail about supplements. Players are named, schedules discussed and questions asked by Hird about the progress of certain players. It seems difficult to imagine Flanagan had anywhere near the level of involvement Hird had – if he had any at all. Dank refused to offer an insight into what went on. Dank's offsider at the Sharks and Manly, Darren "The Gazelle" Hibbert, has been more open about it.

Via email he wrote: "If there was a 'darkest day in sport', in my mind it was Friday 22nd August 2014. The Cronulla players were duped and forced into accepting the sanctions from ASADA . . . and ASADA's bluff paid off. It was like when ASADA stormed into my unit and said, 'If you don't comply with us [even though you are not a professional athlete], we are going to make life very difficult for you.' Well, they have. Unless you have the unlimited funds like that of a Clive Palmer or James Packer, you would not be able to prove your innocence in a proper court of law; instead you have to contend with the kangaroo court of ASADA where you are guilty until you can prove yourself innocent. You don't even have to be an athlete. Sounds unconstitutional doesn't it? These guys are out of control. They have now banned athletes taking glycerine, a product available from any supermarket which is used in all cakes and nutritional bars to make them taste good. It is banned because it aids in hydration and increases sport performance." Farewell to Mini won't be a major distraction The Roosters are trying their best to keep a lid on the emotion surrounding veteran fullback Anthony Minichiello's retirement – they love their skipper to death – but don't want the thought that Thursday's match against long-term rivals South Sydney is his "farewell". The Roosters want Mini and the players to focus on making the grand final his farewell. The club knows any softening of resolve or focus will cost them against the Bunnies and hurt their chances of a successful premiership defence. Price of justice Ben Pomeroy was one of the Sharks players planning to challenge the ASADA show-cause notices but his aspirations have been dealt a blow. Pomeroy has been told the Rugby League Players Association will not financially back his challenge or that of any of the Sharks players. Given the hefty legal costs that are sure to be associated with any challenge, it makes the task even tougher for players who are still convinced they are innocent of any wrongdoing.

History lesson Wayne Bennett has become the touchstone for morality on the ASADA matter since pointing a finger at Shane Flanagan and blaming him for allowing his players to be subjected to the Stephen Dank era. Bennett has earned his right to have an opinion – but as far as being the go-to man on morality and being up front . . . you can ask the Roosters what they think of him. They axed a coach (Ricky Stuart) because he said he was joining their club. He backflipped and left the Roosters in a hole that took several years to climb out of. Bennett has walked out on Newcastle early after getting Anthony Griffin moved aside from his position and he had always maintained he would never negotiate with a club that had a coach in place. When it comes to monitoring player behaviour, Darius Boyd spent years in strife and Russell Packer was recruited by Bennett. There is no question Bennett is a great coach, but he is a long way from perfect. Nowhere to hide In his own special way, Bulldogs coach Des Hasler has trying to help Sam Kasiano give up smoking. Hasler, a health freak, has banned big Sam from smoking in club gear and on the premises. There has been the odd sighting of Sam having a quick puff just outside the training venue. On the way out

Ben Hannant never saw eye-to-eye with Broncos coach Anthony Griffin and with Wayne Bennett coming to town, it looked like Hannant was going to be a big winner out of the demise of the coach. But word is that Hannant won't be part of the Bennett plan for next season. Don't cry for me Paul Gallen has had a private word with the Blues players who wanted to boycott the Brad Fittler medal on his behalf and told them not to. There was plenty of anger at Fittler's comments – the players felt that, as a member of the Blues staff, Fittler should have stayed quiet. The older Fittler has become more comfortable voicing his views. He does care about the fallout – just the truth. At least one member of the Blues side contacted Fittler and told him what he thought of his opinion. The feeling among the Blues is that a Queensland great would not have spoken out against a player who is so respected among the NSW players. What Gallen will find hard to comprehend is that he was penalised this year for something that happened three seasons earlier. Gallen has been doing it tough in the days since he was forced to roll over. He has largely kept to himself but he was spotted in the city on Friday. A cafe owner showed he has lost no love for the Blues skipper by congratulating him on the series win and offering him a croissant. And if the Blues have decided that Gallen is ineligible for their own award, does that mean that they have conceded that they fielded an ineligible player? Can Queensland now complain? Cranky Sharks

When the Cronulla players go into depth about the ASADA offer, expect the word "blackmail" to get a run. After speaking to several of the 2011 players, that is exactly how they feel they were treated by the drugs agency. They were put in an a situation where fighting for their innocence was never an option. A three-game ban as opposed to a lengthy legal fight at the end of 18 months of torture was too much for them to bear. The players I have talked to are angry on so many levels and there is the real threat of legal action against the club. Wade Graham has been heavily criticised for associating with Todd Carney while trying to recover from the stress of his ASADA ban. What is not that well known is that Graham was by Carney's side as he was getting over his own drama. Carney is now repaying the favour. Diamond-tipped John Sattler made his name with his stunning display, playing a grand final with a busted jaw. At his book launch during the week, it was his teeth, not his jaw, that got people talking. Sattler was sporting a great new set of choppers that set him back $8000 in Thailand. We don't know if the diamond in one of his teeth was included. He was looking very sharp. Danny Weidler is a Channel Nine reporter