David Gillespie: Footy legend makes stunning confession about why he had to go to rehab when his career was over – and the chance meeting that changed his life forever

• David Gillespie reveals details about gambling addiction
• Says he checked himself into rehab after footy career

By JAMES COONEY FOR DAILY MAIL AUSTRALIA

Legendary rugby league hard man David ‘Cement’ Gillespie has bravely shared his story of gambling addiction as he shed light on the struggles he faced after he hung up his footy boots.

Gillespie, who played 258 games for Canterbury, Manly and Wests, winning three NRL grand finals, admitted that he developed a gambling problem that spiralled out of control after he retired.

‘Towards the end of my career I got into a bit of a vice with gambling and poker machines,’ the 60-year-old told player manager Steve ‘Chimes’ Gillis on the Chiming In podcast.

‘My marriage was breaking down in the last couple of years of my playing career, so things weren’t crash hot at home, so I got into that spiral, that addiction.

‘I ended up going to a rehab joint for six weeks and that was probably three or four years after I retired.’

The footy legend says he had to hit rock bottom and had split up with his wife when a chance meeting turned his life around.

David ‘Cement’ Gillespie has opened up about his post-career gambling addiction

Gillespie, one of the toughest players of his era, ended up in rehab for six weeks because of his severe problem with gambling on poker machines

It was the sister of one of his former teammates – and the couple are still together today.

‘I was going nowhere fast, I was on a downward spiral, and to her credit – I’ve been with her 20-odd years now – for the first five or six years I was still in that spiral, and she stuck by me,’ explained Gillespie.

‘She didn’t have to. She could have kicked me out and told me to p**s off at any stage. I’m very grateful – and I’ve turned it around and we’re still together.

‘If it wasn’t for her, I don’t know where I’d be.’

Gillespie admitted that his addictive nature also meant he struggled with his health when he stopped playing.

‘In the middle of that addiction I got up to 130 kilos,’ he said..

‘I’d finished playing at about 108kg… my weight ballooned three or four years after I retired.’

Since then he’s taken much better care of himself, but says he doesn’t believe people ever really overcome their addictions. 

The footy legend (pictured centre while working with Wests Tigers in 2001) says he stacked on the kilos after he retired – but is now on top of that too

‘I don’t think you ever beat it – you’ve just gotta keep on top of it. 

‘I still have a couple of bets, I was never a big punter on horses but Melbourne Cup time I’ll have a few trifectas.

‘I still watch the races, I’ve still got the TAB app. 

‘Poker machines were my vice. As I said, you never beat that, you’ve just gotta curb it. Which I have.’

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David Gillespie: Footy legend makes stunning confession about why he had to go to rehab when his career was over – and the chance meeting that changed his life forever

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