The Organised Crime Squad from the NSW Police have launched an investigation into claims of match-fixing in the NRL.
“The Organised Crime Squad is in the early stages of examining information to alleged match fixing in the NRL,” a police spokeswoman said.
“No further comment is appropriate at this stage.”
It is understood that two matches from 2015 – Manly versus South Sydney in Round 16 and Manly versus Parramatta in Round 24 – are the fixtures under investigation.
Souths won the first match 20-8, while the Eels won the second 20-16.
The NRL responded to the reports with a statement, saying they were cooperating with the authorities conducting the investigation.
“The NRL is treating this as a serious matter and will take any action necessary to protect the integrity of the game,” and NRL spokesman said.
CEO Todd Greenberg also responded to the news, saying the investigation will be given the full support of the NRL.
“Whatever the police require they will get from the NRL Integrity Unit,” Greenberg said.
“We will always confront issues in Rugby League. And we will always deal with these issues.”
Greenberg also threatened severe penalties for anyone involved in the scandal if they are found guilty of match-fixing and said he will talk to the CEOs of every NRL club in light of the investigation.
“If any allegations are proven and individuals are found guilty, we will ban them for life.”
According to the Sydney Morning Herald, Eddie Hayson, a former brothel owner and gambler, has become involved in the investigation.
Hayson allegedly collected $500,000 in cash to place a bet on the Rabbitohs to win by eight or more points in the Round 16 fixture. Hayson reportedly told a jockey to place separate bets of $120,000 and $100,000 on the same result. The second wager was declined by the betting agency.
According to a source who didn’t agree to be a part of Hayson’s alleged scheme, six players were involved in the plan.
“Eddie did tell me there were six players and he had to give 50 large [$50,000] to each one,” the source told Fairfax Media.
Separately, Hayson is known to have met with Kieran Foran around the time of the embattled Parramatta star’s TAB account being linked with a large number of bets placed on various races.
Foran is suing both News Corp for their story on this matter, and TAB for breach of privacy. Hayson has denied he was behind the gambling splurge, and Foran has not been implicated in the current fixing allegations.
There has been growing concern that the NRL is at risk of falling victim to match-fixing, with Detective Inspector Wayne Walpole, the man in charge of the NSW charter against organised crime in sport, claiming the competition has already been infiltrated.
“I’m not saying corruption or match fixing has happened, but I’m saying the infiltration is there and that infiltration can lead to the compromise of the sports of the athlete,” he said.
If the allegations are proven to be true, it would not be the first time match-fixing has reared its head in the NRL.
Former Canterbury forward Ryan Tandy was fined $4000 and placed on a good-behaviour bond after he was convicted of trying to fix a match between the Bulldogs and Cowboys.
In addition to the current match-fixing investigation, the Organised Crime Squad is reportedly close to issuing an additional set of warnings to Corey Norman, Junior Paulo and James Segeyaro for allegedly consorting with convicted criminal figures.
The group were issued with warnings last week. There is no suggestion any of the three players were involved in, or had planned to take part in, match fixing.
richo
Guest
im speechless that you are only now beginning to wonder
Andrew
Guest
They didn't say the 6 played in both games could have been 3 in one game and a diff 3 in the other game, didn't say they all played for manly neither, just that manly were involved in both games, could be 2 manly players, 2 souths players, and 2 parra players or any combination, didn't say what the bet was neither could have been the result, the margin or anything, hence the fact that if it happen it may involve players from all teams. If its the margin then you might need players from both sides. IE if the margin bet is for 13 plus and a side is only up by 10 then player A may know to run at player B in the opposition and he misses the tackle and a try is set up or scored.
Andrew
Guest
What a load of crap, so because some males are paedophiles we should consider all males are paedophiles, because some are rapists we should consider all males rapists,
Andrew
Guest
Gee mate why do that, join in with all the others on here who take joy in spreading rumors and innuendo, its not like any of it will stick or anything, hey you might even be able to tear one of those nasty footballers down a peg or two, who cares if there guilty or not.
3 Hats
Guest
I watched the game and as a former Referee, I will know if something is NOT kosher! What you have to look for in any investigation is the attitude of the players. Are they playing flat or up-tempo? Manly was up-tempo for the whole game. Are they giving away cheap penalties? There were a couple but that happens in every game and with most of the better teams, slowing the playdown and so on. Are there any unforced errors? Not too many but ANZ stadium is greasy even on a dry night. Are they missing an undo amount of tackles? I didn't notice any. All of these factors above are what I have considered. I can't really see anything glaring as throwing the game. I suppose there were 2 players that may have stood out as possibles but you couldn't really accuse them as their errors or Penalties given away could have happened in any game.
Sleiman Azizi
Roar Guru
Actually, I was. I hope you believed me.
Cathar Treize
Guest
Meanwhile the news of the Daily Telegraph is brought to you by a full page ad from First Choice & Ladbrokes. For your convenience we'll put this NRL outrage next to our racing guide, just ignore the odds and where to gamble.
pete bloor
Guest
You don't need to know for certain you just need to skew the odds. If it changes it from a 1/5 chance to a 2/5 then you've basically doubled your expected return right. It's like dealing off the bottom of the deck in poker, you can't guarantee that you'll win as you don't know what cards went from the top, but it increases your chances. Plus it makes it more credible if all that happens is you are winning more often than almost all the time.
pete bloor
Guest
Here I was thinking the casino got all those shiny fixtures donated to them... your not telling me they kitted those hotel rooms out based on profits are you!
Marvel
Guest
Not id the money was off track as it were..
Marvel
Guest
Do Johns bros still own horses with Hayson - good look for 2 leading commentators
Marvel
Guest
Police made a statement maybe to panic the alleged six into doing something stupid
pete bloor
Guest
Do you think it would be easy for someone to walk up to their incredibly wealthy family and say hey despite all the cash I've got and my high paying job I'm some how living beyond my means... mind spotting me 50k?
turbodewd
Roar Guru
Pls rewatch and tell us your thoughts.
turbodewd
Roar Guru
Can we at least aspire for Maccas to be the sponsor of our video replay? KFC is the worst of the fast foods - never fresh like Maccas. KFC is stodgy...on a good day!
Marvel
Guest
Players who have left the club because they were forced out by DCE's big payday
Marvel
Guest
What are you accusing those 3 of CT??
Marvel
Guest
yeah - please answer the qn how did they know they would be at the defending end so Cowboys would kick for goal??? Its not a hard qn??
matth
Guest
And the non-intervention when Reynolds blatantly stripped the ball from Thaiday? Was that some sort of clever ploy that I'm not deep enough to understand from those dastardly Queenslanders?
parra
Guest
I think the timing is perfect. After the caution issued by police and the NRL over players links to organised crime figures, match fixing allegation and the subsequent review by police and comment by the NRL reinforces the message to players. Be careful who you associate with because the Police are watching. A powerful message to young people who it seems are prone to making mistakes. Perception and fact are the same, equally important. Also the games reputation is at stake and this is key to the games future etc.