Why the NRL needs to help Williams

The NRLs first responsibility is to protect the NRL. Players betting on matches throws the entire competition at risk - *especially* when they bet on games they are actually playing in. Williams is lucky he's not banned for life. Unbelievably stupid. Provide as much support to players as is necessary (though the club, as the employer, should carry the load) - but protecting the game is paramount.

SILLY BUGGER "GO THE EAGLES"

Take last nights game for example, why oh why did the Tigers no try not go to video ref'? They have all these tools at their disposal yet refuse to use them except in a purely random manner. For years I've had "raised eyebrow moments" with the way Origin games have gone down to a third game decider. It seems to me that it defies logic given how dominant Queensland have been. And don't get me started on the second game this year. If that game wasn't manipulated for a Blues victory then you'd believe in the tooth fairy. I realise I'm way off topic here, but a few players putting pocket change on games is nowhere near what we should be talking about.

Buzzard, he bet on Manly games for them to win. Hardly a capital crime. Thing is mate he is being made a scapegoat for the Leagues impossible task of getting the real criminals of the game...those who bet on a game and then intentionally negatively affect their teams performances to cash in. That's where the problem lies. Not some honest or just plain foolish punter. These guys who have been nabbed are being punished not because they have done anything terribly wrong, but rather as a statement to the public that the League is trying to do something. The problem is though that the only people they will discourage from betting are the honest punters. The criminal betters are far cleverer than to bet themselves. They'll use proxies at distant locations as they have been doing for decades. As for Williams, unlike Tandy he has not been banned for life, but rather from the last half dozen games of the season. His chances of playing Manly first grade again are very unlikely because at Manly there are about three or four players now ahead of him should injury hit one of the majors. I suspect he will either retire with a job set up by Manly, or he'll be offered a lifeline elsewhere. He's got a year left of his contract with Manly, but I suspect he will play it in reserves if he stays. Manly have agreed to a release.

Well Im not sure what NRL results to trust these days. Youve got drug-taking Sharks who pull off 2 "miracle" comebacks. Is this NRL or WWE now?! Im not sure what to believe with the NRL these days.

You should learn how to spell & write properly before commenting! It's 'their' not there...........so the other clubs involved should have their points stripped also? Maybe it's the fact you just hate Manly that's clouding your judgement?

I don't really have a problem with players / officials betting on games. If you bet against your team, that's a different matter. I do have a problem with the exotic bets though. Keep it simple with head to head, win / lose and it takes a lot of the temptation away. Of course that will never happen. But does anybody else wonder at the corruption that already exists in the game? I'm talking about - hypothetically - if the boss at channel nine decides that team "a" versus team "b" will be a high rating grand final and instructs or influences the match officials towards a desired result. Just little things like dubious penalties at critical moments to spoil momentum, not using video referral consistantly or just plain wrong video decisions. I wouldn't go as far as to say that ref's are on the take but if they are made aware they won't get a first grade gig unless they toe the line it's the same result. Do I think it's probable? No. Do I think it's possible? Yes. The thing is that we will never know for sure and by exposing these players for piddling amounts it screams to me that they are covering something else up. To distract us from what is truly corrupt. Yep tinfoil hat time.

Strip Manly of there points. He's even been betting on Manly games.

I'm guessing that anyone can offer odds on anything unless the government has a law against doing it. But even if governments did that they wouldn't be able to stop betting companies outside Australia. I think in the USA betting on NFL is illegal but millions of dollars are laid on NFL bets by Americans with overseas betting companies. It's easier for the NFL to stay away from betting agencies as the NFL is financially so huge it can get by without taking a percentage or sponsorship. But Australian sports need the money. The gambling on AFL & NRL will happen whether the AFL & NRL are partners of it or not. If it is banned the off shore bookies will make a killing and the government tax, AFL & NRL will get nothing.

I just went back and looked at the newsflash. It seems Williams' bets range between $5 and $60! Wow! What a scoop NRL, you've cracked a major case here! If I here or see them include the word 'Integrity' again I think I will vomit. Geez, an amnesty arrangement may well have had a better look here.

Integrity? Whew! They continually drag out the 'integrity' line when (in relation to gambling) adverts are posted at every ground, radio and tv broadcasts and newspapers. It's saturated to the extent that it is akin to mind control. How can the NRL discipline Williams or others on an issue in which themselves are involved in? It's like mother telling child not to smoke when mother is a smoker. Does anyone know the the nature of Williams' bets? In disclosing his penalty and smattering it across the media did they also disclose whether it fits the 'crime'?

"Our whole lives we know that if we ever get a chance to play professional footy, we could never bet on a match – let alone one we’re playing in." How old are you Eli? 5 or 6? What year did the NRL ban players betting? Can't have been very long ago. Gross over reaction from NRL as usual. Playing it out in the media too is shameful. Player bets on his own team to win. What a shock. What an outrage. Won't someone think of the children.

Agree with Steve b................To suggest that Williams should be banned for longer than the ban he has received is a little over the top, especially when the details of the misdemeanor have not been released. It seems the NRL think that banning him for the rest of the season is punishment enough. If he was involved in match fixing, as in the case of Ryan Tandy, then yes his ban should be longer, however this appears not to be the case. What makes you think that Williams is or will be in the same mental state as Ryan Tandy& feel like he should just end it all. There is no proof that Tandy's demise was due to depression resultant from his ban! The ban Williams has received is enough...........leave the guy alone! I'm sure that Manly & the NRL will do what is required to assist him during this difficult period of his life.

As usual the NRL over reacting and causing a media circus ,its nothing like the Tandy case and could have been handled in house with a warning but no lets smash it all over the media and make it 100 times bigger than it needed to be .

Can anyone please answer if the know. does the NRL have any say in allowing or stopping bookmakers from giving odds on the NRL or do they have no control over it and only the government could stop them ???

At the very least they should make sure he is mentally ok and stable for the foreseeable future I know what he did was wrong but can't help but think what a joke for years he played with centerbet across his shoulders and in his face at his home dressing room not even counting all the other ones spread all over the nrl the field ,billboards other players jerseys to name a few and ch 9 should be ashamed its the same as when it was called the Winfield cup and everyone gave cliffy Lyons grief for smoking of all the things that will destroy our game completely its gambling and the problems it brings If we stay on this path all credibility will be lost and it May as well be called sports entertainment like wwe