Former NRL star Craig Field has opened up about serving time in jail for manslaughter – and how testing positive for cocaine during his time with the Wests Tigers still haunts him as he struggles in retirement.
Field, 52, has lived a colourful life after making his first-grade debut with South Sydney in 1990 aged just 17.
The halfback eventually moved onto Manly, where he featured in the storied 1997 ARL grand final against Newcastle.
Stints at Balmain and the Wests Tigers followed, but it was a fight outside a Kingscliff pub car park in July 2012 that turned his world upside down.
Field struck fellow patron Kelvin Kane with one punch, which witness described as ‘bone-shattering’, and the 50-year-old farmer later died in hospital due to a brain haemorrhage.
In 2014, Field was found guilty of manslaughter, for which he served seven and a half years behind bars.
Former NRL star Craig Field has opened up about serving time for manslaughter – and how testing positive for cocaine still haunts him
Field, 52, now works six days a week in construction to support himself and wants his life to be a cautionary tale for other footballers
Speaking candidly on the Unfiltered podcast with Andy Raymond, Field expressed his regret about the tragedy.
‘I am remorseful, there was no ill intent… it (the punch) was spur of the moment,’ he said.
‘I reacted, made a poor decision. I (definitely) regret what happened.
‘In jail, I had plenty of time to reflect. I paid dearly for it, as did the victim’s family.’
Field added that he ‘deserved to go’ behind bars, and that being incarcerated was eye-opening, given he met ‘good and bad people’ from all walks of life.
In the two-part interview, Field also recalled the details behind his sacking from the Wests Tigers in 2001 after testing positive for cocaine.
‘I blame myself, it was a poor choice, we all make mistakes,’ he said.
‘I actually found out on the radio (about the positive result for cocaine). I then went to rehab… but the club (Wests Tigers) chewed me up and spat me out.’
In 2012, Field punched Kelvin Kane (pictured, right) outside a pub, resulting in a brain haemorrhage that killed the 50-year-old farmer
Field (pictured left) admits temptations off the field saw him lose focus during his time as one of the NRL’s biggest names
In terms of life regrets, Field has plenty.
He works six days a week in construction to support himself after making a fortune during his time at the top of the game and wants his mistakes to be a cautionary tale for other footballers.
On the insistence of former Rabbitohs teammate and now Sea Eagles CEO Tony Mestrov, Field addressed the club’s NRL squad in 2023.
He urged the Manly players to be savvy with their money, invest in property and avoid pitfalls like drugs and gambling.
His testimony was honest and powerful – and resonated with many stars, including skipper Daly Cherry-Evans.
‘Craig’s key takeaway was about owning your decisions as a person because they have a consequence,’ Cherry-Evans said at the time.
‘He made some decisions throughout his life and career that had a really negative impact on himself and the people around him.’