Wendell Sailor opens up about private life

Former Rugby League and Union star Wendell Sailor and his wife have spoken publicly for the first time about the challenges of him being a high profile player.

Just days before the launch of his tell-all book, the Sailors have told 7News how their relationship was tested by news of a baby from a one night stand.

Not long after the birth of their first child, Tristan, Sailor learned he fathered another, Jackson - born just months earlier.

His wife Tara said she was in shock.

"I still remember where I was when he told me that and I was holding Tristan in my arms and everything. It was hard because you know I had put myself and my family in a situation," she said.

“I remember even not letting go of Tristan and not letting him [Sailor] hold Tristan. I was just so protective of what I had, I just got this beautiful baby and now you’re telling me, this is not your first born, that there's someone else out there.”

The couple welcomed Jackson into their family along with Tristan and Mattisse.

What wasn't welcome was the constant stream of women overstepping the mark with the intent of "netting" a footballer.

"There's a girl rule you know, we should all be there for each other, and when you see women not care because they are purely going for the guy for his status it's just really annoying,” she said.

“He probably did have a little twinkle in his eye without being disrespectful to me, but you've just got these girls throwing themselves at you."

Sailor's successful and multimillion dollar career in the NRL and rugby was tarnished by a number of off field indiscretions highlighted by a two year drug ban for cocaine use.

Fast forward a few years and how would Sailor react if his daughter Mattisse was dating a football player?

"Mate, I'm not real keen on her dating a football player,” Sailor said.

“I'm just gonna let him know that I've been there, I've invented the game, so I'm going to be watching him, you know."