Veteran Manly centre Steve Matai has reportedly had his mobile phone seized as police investigate allegations of match-fixing in the NRL.
Seven Network and Fairfax Media both reported on Friday that Matai’s phone had been taken by police.
Comment was being sought from Matai.
NSW police have ramped up their probe this week, establishing Strike Force Nuralda, with detectives expected to interview dozens of players, officials and others as they work in conjunction with the NSW Crime Commission.
Initial reports had suspicions raised over three matches involving Manly, one against South Sydney and another against Parramatta last year and a clash with Parramatta this year.
However News Corp Australia reported that the strike force had now asked betting agencies to reveal every gambling transaction on every market for Sea Eagles games in 2015 and 2016.
Sea Eagles chairman Scott Penn has claimed Manly is a victim of “guilt by innuendo”, revealing the club had yet to be contacted by police.
“We are concerned about the way in which the club brand has been tarnished by speculation,” Penn said.
“It is guilt by innuendo.
“We have reached out to (the police) and literally had one conversation and they said we will get back to you when we are ready.”
Fairfax Media also reported that corporate bookmaker Ladbrokes rejected a $30,000 deposit into former Manly and Parramatta playmaker Kieran Foran’s betting account this year.
It’s reported that the organisation had grown concerned about the negative publicity regarding Foran’s gambling habits, and believed the deposit was out of character for the then Eels’ captain’s account.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
Now we hear channel 7 has made an apology to Matai. for the emotional affect it has had on him and on his family. Amazing get your name dragged through the mud by the media,and this mud sticks regardless of innocence,and when said media find out the info is wrongJt's usually just a swift apology,next,all forgotten. Massoud needs to make a formal apology to Matai and his family.He was on the Offsiders and never questioned about his mistake.Just a smart A comment' remember gamble responsibly". I long for the days of Frilingos,Clarkson et al.They were journalists held in high regard. Should any player be proven to have been involved in match fixing ,he should never be sighted near a rugby league ever again. I await the outcome of the Crime Commission findings,not innuendo and hints from the ravenous grubby media.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
richo. Rather than spending time trying to point score on who has naught players and who has the" cleanskins" ,let justice take its course. BTW just a few names to put in your memory bank: Albert Proud,Nick Stevens,Daniel Kerr,Andrew Krakauer say hi ,now be so good as to stick to the subject matter,and stop ignoring weeds in ones backyard.
madmax
Guest
lolol..........at least they don't take drugs!! Talking of bogans Melbourne is the bogan capital of Australia mate lolol.
madmax
Guest
Yeah at least NRL clubs aren't sanctioned for drug taking!!! Essendon anyone? Oh yeah & not to speak of Ricky Nixon & the 17 yr old girl?? Justin Charles positive drug test? Stephen Milne & the rape allegations? Ben Cousins anyone? Wayne Carey anyone? Carlton salary cap breach anyone? Should I go on??
Statler and Waldorf
Roar Guru
AFL fans also boo players that are a different colour to themselves There are bogans and dh's in all sports both on and off the field NRL's biggest problem is finding refs that know the rules
baz
Guest
Can someone investigate the bunker and the ref for tonights game i'm a fan of neither team and when you can kick a guy and it be ok something is seriously wrong.
Rod
Guest
If they have half a brain, you soon work out this is concern for all major sports, match fixing claims in the US open today, matching fixing in cricket, there's has been allegation of match fixing in football over the years.people tend to forget very quickly.
The Barry
Roar Guru
Sorry bulldog...meant to be a new comment not a reply to you.
The Barry
Roar Guru
I want this to be fully investigated and sorted out, but I'll take stories like this with a big grain of salt while the words 'alleged' and 'reported' are used as frequently as they have been here.
The Barry
Roar Guru
Of course rugby league is the only code susceptible to match fixing. Grub.
Chancho
Roar Rookie
I'm an aussie rules fan and part-time league fan and I have to say that statement is totally incorrect richo - we've had the Adam Goode's incidents at the end of last year, just recently a banana was thrown at an indigenous player, there have been countless cases of fans and players acting up, Dustin Martin wanting to stab a girl in the eye with a chopstick (although that was 'thrown out', but got a lot of press perhaps a lot for the way he look more than anything), let alone the Essendon/ASADA/WADA stuff... and the ever-present foot-in-mouther Eddie McGuire! The one thing I will say, and this is a gut-feeling I have, maybe in Melbourne the AFL has a bit more clout with the media etc then the NRL has in Sydney and elsewhere, and some things aren't treated as explosively? Hawks captain Hodge was done 12 months ago with a high BAC level and the media was relatively quiet (had that been an NRL equivelant I can bet my bottom dollar it'd be headline news) and at the start of the year there was something involving another Hawks star, Brad Hill I believe. What I'm trying to say, is that the AFL is in no way as saintly as you've portrayed it... it's how that message gets out, and the AFL do a good job of keeping a clean-cut image
Bee bee
Guest
Don't forget their dwarf throwing fetish. And hilarious female commentator drowning jokes.
MyGeneration
Roar Guru
How about updating the update, Roar? http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/manly-sea-eagles/manly-sea-eagles-centre-steve-matai-denies-mobile-phone-was-seized-by-authorities-20160909-grd1qc.html
Chui
Guest
Heaven forbid The Roar might actually follow up with Matai's statement. That won't keep people clicking.
Jacko
Guest
“My phone has never been out of my possession and I have never been interviewed by police,” said Matai in a Manly club statement.
world in sport
Guest
well said Eagle Jack - I totally agree
armchair expert
Guest
Correct EJ. It seems as though Authorities like to have grand announcements before they have any evidence these days. Worst day in Australian sport ring any bells? I guess we will watch with bated breath, NOT.
Simmo
Guest
It wouldn't be like the media to let a good story get in the way of the truth! or is it the other way around? I can't remember!
eagleJack
Roar Guru
Best to ignore a mental giant like richo. Before we know it we'll have a code war and a race to the bottom comparing unsavoury incidents that occur across both codes.
clipper
Guest
It would actually make more sense with bottom teams as there would be less focus on them.