For those who thought the suspensions handed down by the NRL to players caught betting on rugby league were a bit harsh, how about this for a theory?
Could it be a shot across the bow at any players who might be betting on league, but are smarter than to leave a trail that guarantees they are going to be netted in any swoop?
After all, what the league found in an audit covering 1500 players, officials and staff members was pretty slim pickings.
It would be a great result for the game if the information revealed yesterday was the full extent of betting on league by players, officials and staff. But do you honestly reckon it was?
League is just one more section of society. Like with the fans following the game and the media covering it, there would be plenty of players, officials and staff who like a bet. And it’s not hard to have a bet and not leave a record.
You don’t need your own account to get on. These days, you can place a bet at a TAB agency without even having to talk to anyone behind a counter, on one of those machines that look a bit like pokies. Or you can get a friend to put a bet on for you. It’s easy to have an anonymous bet.
The NRL’s integrity unit aren’t mucking around. You could sense them standing over Cronulla with a big stick, ready to use it if they weren’t happy with the punishment dished out to Todd Carney following his latest off-field indiscretion.
They have brought the big stick out again, and used it this time, since the audit was the league’s baby. And they didn’t miss David Williams.
The evidence the league found did not suggest there had been any attempted match-fixing, or spot-fixing within a match, by any of the players punished, but the league still came down hard.
Williams was suspended for the rest of the season, for “placing multiple bets on games – including several in which he was involved”. It was established that in none of the wagers did he bet against the team he plays for, Manly.
Of the four players suspended for two games each – Ethan Lowe, Cody Nelson, Hymel Hunt and Slade Griffin – none bet against their own team either.
The league has done the right thing. The players are educated on these issues. They know the rules and the potential penalties if they break them. And now they know the league will hand down such penalties.
Three other league employees, described as “casual game day officials”, were sacked, and nine from that same category were suspended for the rest of the season. Plus warnings, described as “first and final”, were issued to 12 people, comprising players, staff and officials, who placed “small, isolated bets” on league games.
The league wasn’t well equipped to handle the investigation into the first scoring play betting scandal that resulted in then Canterbury player Ryan Tandy, who recently passed away, being found guilty in court of spot-fixing. The league is much better equipped to handle investigations of this nature now.
If there are players betting on league games who weren’t caught in the sweep, they would be wise to stop. They are gambling with their careers.
It’s not hard to come undone in a situation like that. People can get into disagreements over money very easily. If someone knows a bit of information about you, they may decide to release that information to teach you a lesson.
The league has issued the warning. Any minority who may want to ignore it should think again.
S.L. Craven
Guest
you are 100% Do we really think its the dumb players who actually get caught that are the problem? What of the smarter players (its all relative) and officials who will be at it for sure? You can't watch a rugby league game on TV without some sewer rat spruiking his gambling odds if only you'd send him your money instead of spending it on your kids.
ScottWoodward.me
Roar Guru
Muzz It was just a shame that they lost like that. He had 2 brain explosions and he looked like he was on another planet. He made Tupou look like a genius and we saw in the Origin that he is not.
Rabbitz
Roar Guru
I think it is more than a "stick" to warn others who might be having "the odd wager". I suspect that this is the NRL starting a move towards teaching some of the not-so-bright members of their cohort that they are serious. I would think that the NRL management are sick of the ongoing off-field and on-field PR disasters. They've tried cover ups, they've tried education, they've tried counselling - none of these things have worked with the players of lower IQ and greater arrogance. So what is left for these miscreants? I suggest that the NRL now think it is time to stop showing the stick, and it is time to start wielding the stick. I fully expect the NRL to start coming down hard on any misdemeanour's, and recidivists will be belted to within an inch of their playing careers.
Glenn Innes
Guest
I might add I have no problems with gambling at all...indeed it simply can't be avoided as life is one huge gamble.Ever heard of Pascals wager (I am sure Scott would have) The great Blaise Pascal the 17th century French mathematician,father of probability theory and huge influence on modern Physics.Pascals wager was does god exist,surely the biggest gamble of them all.? Pascal concluded that we will never really know.but if we behave as if he does then we might end up spending eternity in constant bliss and if it turns out he doesn't we will not know about it anyway.Pascal concluded that even if god doesn't exist all you would be losing are the pleasures of sin and bet against eternal hellfire that is not a bad bet. It is still the biggest bet out there and one we all make one way or another!
Glenn Innes
Guest
Pedro - The NRL was built on gambling..the NRL is really an extension of the old NSWRL which was probably unique in being the only sports League on the entire planet built on the back of revenue from gaming machines - the game in NSW has been addicted to gambling since the fifties. It was money from gaming machines that saw Australia overtake England to become the dominant power in the game.it was money from gaming machines that indirectly led to the collapse of the old Brisbane Rugby League the emergence of both State of Origin and the Broncos and a quasi national comp.It was from gaming machines that made the Sydney Rugby League the wealthiest league in the country. In the seventies VFL players played for beer money compared to League players in Sydney despite the fact they played in front of much bigger crowds...because there were no gaming machines in Melbourne.Rugby League in NSW has fed off gambling for sixty years it is not something new!
Sylvester
Guest
Right..and, based on the same logic, the NRL shouldn't be anti dangerous driving because a car company sponsors the Holden Cup...
Adam
Guest
Wolfman could also just not bet on NRL matches? Bet on whatever other event offered, seems to simple
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
Yes Storm Boy lets bring in tanking.And the ASADA handling.
Storm Boy
Guest
The sooner the AFL takes control of rugby league the better. End this madness.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
Players are made aware of the gambling edict,if they are stupid enough to ignore it,they do so at their peril and perhaps their careers. The very reason the code has finally in place an integrity unit(why not before under the prior admin?) to provide a transparency the code has lacked for years. At last we have an admin who has a zero tolerance approach.The code has to be rid of the loons ,consistent offfield offenders in order to gain credibility to a wider market place. If the message doesn't get through to these guys,then they get no sympathy from me and certainly none from a professional NRL admin. The comment the NRL is not serious is laughable, 3 lower grade match officials were flicked.Others suspended. All codes not just rugby league receive a slice of gambling monies,as these organisations benefit from the codes matches. We don't want a situation a la cricket overseas and soccer overseas,where in some places match fixing is a problem.
Muzz
Guest
Scott - One would think that he had a punt on the GF when you look at his performance. Manly fans must be fuming!!! His time at the Sea Eagles must be up.
Luis
Guest
From what I read there are officials of the game who also have been caught up in this betting scandal. Shouldn't they also be named? If they happen to be referees wouldn't that be a much bigger scandal? Could that explain some of the crazy inconsistencies in match results this year??
Luke M
Guest
Well said.
Charles NSW
Guest
That would be interesting! If he has not signed a document saying he should not bet he may have a case?
ScottWoodward.me
Roar Guru
I only wish Wolfman had been sprung this time last year and Manly would have won the GF....he should talk to his lawyer about suing the NRL for encouraging betting with all their advertising.
Cugel
Roar Rookie
Firing players who bet is supporting betting as well - by purportedly fighting for the integrity of the contest, and thereby encouraging bettor confidence.
Harry wells
Guest
You have to wonder at the mentality after all the warnings? No wonder there is a high turnover of CEOs
Worlds Biggest
Guest
Very silly by the Wolfman, his season and premiership hopes are dashed. I hope his family & friends are there for him in what must be a tough time. He went MIA after his GF shocker last year, hopefully he doesn't do the same again.
Charles NSW
Guest
Practice what you preach! On one hand they are supporting betting by promoting it and then on the other they are fining players who bet, huh?
Christo the Daddyo
Guest
Sigh... The NRL does not prevent anyone from gambling. The only restriction is on NRL games. It's a pretty simple concept I would have thought.