Former NRL star Matt Cooper has revealed that a fit and healthy lifestyle has contributed to his recovery process following an addiction to painkiller Endone.
Speaking to the Daily Telegraph, the 39-year-old said that exercise now plays a huge role in his mental health.
‘It is no secret I’ve had my ups and downs in recent years and definitely the fitness side of what I do obviously helps the mind,’ he said.
Bouncing back! Former NRL star Matt Cooper has revealed that a fit and healthy lifestyle has contributed to his recovery process following an addiction to painkiller Endone
The former Illawarra Dragons player also revealed that he’s had to cut down on running due to the ‘wear and tear’ that his sports career has taken on his knees and joints.
According to his popular Instagram page, Matt now practices mixed martial arts as a way to keep fit.
The tattooed father-of-two was admitted to rehab in 2016 after he was hospitalised after taking a dangerous cocktail of prescription meds.
No more: The former Illawarra Dragons player also revealed that he’s had to cut down on running due to the ‘wear and tear’ that his sports career has taken on his knees and joints
Speaking to the Daily Telegraph at the time, Matt said: ‘I was like “I’m taking too many pills here.” There were times I was like, “I’m not going to wake up”.’
The rugby star, who retired from his 243 game career in 2011, said he was driven to come clean on his addiction after reading about overdoses from the drug.
He said: ‘I Googled how people die from this drug and they just stop breathing. That is when I realised I had to tell my wife. You can only hold a secret for so long and I was getting tired.’
‘It is no secret I’ve had my ups and downs in recent years and definitely the fitness side of what I do obviously helps the mind,’ he said
Since the end of his sports career, Matt has made several memorable appearances on reality television.
In 2014, he competed on the fourteenth season of Dancing With The Stars.
The following year, he starred on The Celebrity Apprentice with Sophie Monk.
Goodbye: The rugby legend retired from his 243 game career in 2011