Like a bad boxing movie, Field was a kid from Redfern who grew up with nothing, amassed a small fortune and then managed to blow the lot.

At one stage he was earning $400,000 a year and had acquired a $2 million property portfolio.

Today the former NRL star is sitting in a prison cell after killing a man in a pub fight on the NSW north coast.

After his Sydney career ended in a drugs controversy, he moved to Wagga where he proved to be a popular figure.

He coached Brothers to two grand finals during a four-year stint and even played grade cricket in the local competition.

When he dealt with this newspaper he was always open and honest.

He didn’t try and shy away from his troubles, in fact quite the opposite. He was more than open about them.

Unfortunately, Field has always been a drinker and punter and over the years that’s what has ultimately brought him undone.

He’s always tried to overcome his demons, but for him, it never quite worked out.

It’s a shame, too, because he is also the father of five.

Even when he was in Wagga his name was tainted after it was alleged he recruited a teenager to rob him while he was working at the Sportsmen’s Club Hotel.

Police believed the half-back set up the whole scenario.

He was, however, eventually found not guilty of the charge, but the suspicion always remained.

Again, while he was on bail for the murder charge he still couldn’t stay out of the spotlight. 

He lost his his licence for drink-driving after he was stopped by police early one morning last May.

Typical of his “luck” the fallen star didn’t even start the fight that lead to the murder charge.

In fact he was trying to act as the peacemaker between his friend Shaun Fathers and farmer Kelvin Kane.

As is want to happen the fight escalated and Field delivered the fatal blow to Kane’s temple.

However, once again he placed himself in a vulnerable position.

The court was told he and Fathers had been drinking and punting at the pub for several hours before the fracas.

With his history he really should have known better.

But then again that seems to be the sad story of his life.

Field was a prodigious talent when he first played with South Sydney at 17. 

He would go on to play 183 first-grade games with Souths, Manly and Wests Tigers.

The highlight was playing in the 1997 grand final – the low light, being sacked by the Tigers for using cocaine.

Well, if nothing else, he’s now got plenty of time to contemplate what may have been – and that indeed is a great shame.