Earlier this week, the NRL made the decision to deregister Tim Simona.
They were left with absolutely no choice after Simona was hit with a number of breaches. His indiscretions included placing multiple wagers on opposition teams as well as using the proceeds from signed memorabilia for his own financial benefit rather than that of designated charities.
He has obviously caused damage to the game and in particular the Wests Tigers.
So, the decision to deregister was the right one.
In his press conference, NRL CEO Todd Greenberg said, “based on the evidence we’ve identified, it is very hard to imagine that Tim Simona will be registered with the NRL at any time in the future.”
In effect, it’s a life ban and Greenberg is well within his rights to say what he said.
But, is a life ban too excessive?
I should say up front that a lengthy ban is the right call.
Simona will likely get a call from the English Super League or European rugby. As I understand it, if the NRL had defined his ban in terms of years, he wouldn’t be eligible play in the English Super League.
As a deregistered player, he can.
Just ask Todd Carney.
Whether English clubs choose to take a risk on Simona is another thing, but you can bet European rugby will come calling.
For Tim, accepting a contract in Europe would be just about the worst thing he could do and the NRL would be completely justified in not having him back.
Tim Simona’s gambling addiction led to these indiscretions and the young man needs to face his demons and get help. If he does this, and many have before, isn’t it right that we give him another chance?
You don’t need to look far into the past to have plenty of examples of disgraced players coming back. Having a second chance is almost a mantra of the NRL.
Russell Packer is a name which springs to mind.
He was convicted of a vicious assault in 2013, spent time in jail, and is now back playing with St George Illawarra. He effectively missed three seasons.
Matthew Lodge is another who was convicted of assault charges, this time in 2015. He is back playing rugby league in Queensland and is not far away from playing in the NRL again.
Blake Ferguson sat out the majority of the 2014 season after being found guilty of indecent assault before resuming his career with the Roosters.
In terms of doping violations, Sandor Earl is getting to the end of his four-year ban and Jarrod Mullen is, unfortunately, likely to end his career with a four-year ban as well.
It is arguable that Simona’s indiscretions are worse, as Earl and Mullen may have been trying to help their respective teams whereas Simona was trying to help the Tigers lose.
The common denominator in all of these bans is that they had an end date.
Tim Simona’s doesn’t and I would argue it should, as long as he stays in Australia, confronts his problems and comes out a changed and better person for it.
Perhaps four or five years would be the right ban length as the breaches were about as serious as they can get within the game – so the NRL has to go in hard.
But, at least with that, there is an end date and, if Tim can get rehabilitated, he deserves the chance to come back like many have before him.
terrence
Guest
Also the lazy moderators haven't yet published my response from midday today which was... "Yes PatchMan, you were very supportive, just because someone goes to church or gives to charity it doesn’t mean they are automatically a decent law-abiding, ethically orientated, citizen. (Just watch the news re the recent royal commission, recent police investigations in the UK, etc.). They probably need to go the church for a reason. I must admit I usually find religious people the worst judges of character and the most easily fooled. You must feel disappointed in Tim Simona, but it’s good you forgive him. Personally, if Tim Simona was out of the game for say two to four years, that more than an adequate penalty. He should also pay the money he promised to charity. Then if he came back to the NRL, I’d be OK with that. Jockey’s that have been caught betting against there horses in races they are riding in rarely get more than a year suspension." Enjoy.
terrence
Guest
No reason for you to embarrassed. Disappointed, yes. Forgiving, yes. But not embarrassed.
GC Dave
Guest
I think everyone should get a second chance. It's a long way from that at this point. This grub stole from charities and pumped it through pokie machines, but gambling addictions can do that. If he were to voluntary clean his life up, clean his addictions up, and work tirelessly for charity ecause of the goodness of his heart, I have no problem with a second start. As it strands, there is no foreseeable redemption timeframe. He needs to spend at least four years on the sidelines. A biog pint here is who would want him. A player who bet against his mates and himself whilst he was part of the team is someone few players would want to rely on in a game.
Craig
Guest
Giving weather reports v betting on your opposition. Having a cigarette v taking illegal substances Hardly an even comparison.
CRITTA
Guest
Name me an Australian sportsman who received thousands of dollars from an Indian match fixer/boomaker just to get " a weather report" and not receive any pentalty infact was given Australian Vice Captaincy. Name me an Australian Sportsman who received thousands of dollars for anti smoking campaign and give up smoking but didn't. Name one Australian cricketer who is a serial stalker of women and the list goes on . This Australian Cricketer is given god like status . But dont worry about some one who had a drug addiction that led to a gambling addiction that led to fruadulent activity to raise money. Match fixing is a big call! Have a look at the amounts of money that were bet and the amounts of money that he would have received is a joke and doesn't amount to match fixing. Definately a ban for doing so but please dont call it match fixing.
terrence
Guest
Yes PatchMan, you were very supportive, just because someone goes to church or gives to charity it doesn't mean they are automatically a decent law-abiding, ethically orientated, citizen. (Just watch the news re the recent royal commission, recent police investigations in the UK, etc.). They probably need to go the church for a reason. I must admit I usually find religious people the worst judges of character and the most easily fooled. You must feel disappointed in Tim Simona, but it's good you forgive him. Personally, if Tim Simona was out of the game for say two to four years, that more than an adequate penalty. He should also pay the money he promised to charity. Then if he came back to the NRL, I'd be OK with that. Jockey's that have been caught betting against there horses in races they are riding in rarely get more than a year suspension.
catcat
Roar Rookie
Its a tough one for me, especially in light of Ryan Tandy. So on the face of it - Simona has been taking coke, gambling on pokies, throwing games and who knows what else. I think a 4 year ban, and at the NRL's discretion if he would be allowed back even after that. So yes I think a second chance - but its not guaranteed.
bulaboy
Guest
Gambling , drinking and drug taking is all part of the Aussie culture..responsible gambling = oxymoron...not sure if Simona is to blame for a wider problem in society or that he could ever make money betting against his own club unless he was colluding with other players anyway...
Your kidding
Guest
The NRL and some people out there are unbelievable. They still say there may be a chance he can play again!! GET A GRIP. ITS A SCANDAL. HE'S GONE.
Mycall
Guest
Jimmmy, you're putting words in Sheek's mouth to make your argument easy. He didn't say half the things you've argued against. "Simona did the wrong thing, he must pay his dues" doesn't really equate to a life ban or to lock ppl up for indiscretions. It's a logical argument that even you agree with. If someone is found guilty of drink driving 80+ times, then you know what, maybe they should be banned from driving for life. Driving is a privilege not a right, as is playing professional sport. I'm sure deep down, the only mistake Simona thinks he made was being caught. If he hadn't been caught, he'd still be doing it. He stole from charities not because he was in debt from gambling or had any threat to his life or any other reason other than money and greed. Everything he did was about greed. A life ban from playing professional RL is not a "life sentence", he can live his life freely and pursue any other career he wants. He can even bet on any sport he wants now although that wouldn't be wise considering the only thing worse than his morals is his ability to pick a winner.
Magnus M. Østergaard
Roar Guru
Im with 3 Hats here and I hope it includes any games where he can make money from i.e. paid to play. Perhaps 20-30 years if you want to be kind.
Mycall
Guest
Exactly, gambling is for better or worse a part of Australian culture and is legal. The NRL would be stupid to let the betting agencies be the only ones to profit from it. I'm comfortable with the fact that the NRL and the betting agencies work together to stop fraud and educate players of the dangers of gambling. The end of "exotic" bets is a step in the right direction.
Mycall
Guest
Probably, but the "right" thing to do is to make sure he keeps his word that he will give the money to the charities. I don't believe it, but if you still have any contact with him, you could help keep him accountable. Paying the money to charity is the absolute minimum he should do towards "rehabilitation".
Roctopus
Guest
Two separate incidents perhaps?
Birdy
Guest
If thats true and can be proven zedman , packer should be sent back to prison to serve out his sentence, and then some.
Mushi
Guest
Good luck with that, it hasn't ever worked for a Ped defence in the past decade plus. Even then getting equated to PEDs you need to run with cheating to win is akin to cheating to lose with regards to the social contract of sport. Good luck
Mushi
Guest
My issue is I don't think in an NRL integrity sense that they were as bad. If we think an NRL suspension is worse than the criminal consequences then perhaps we're contributing more to the problem you're highlighting.
marco
Guest
He cant come back. Unless the NRL cave in like they they so often do. People get sacked in jobs all the time for misdemeanors. How is this different ? Fans watch the games thinking everything is above board. It is now clear that things may not be right in the game. The Simona incident was only discovered by chance. His explosive interview casts a big doubt over the NRL.
Don
Roar Rookie
Drug addiction…gambling addiction…relationship breakdown…pressure… I reckon a good advocate would be able to do OK with "state of mind" defence with the right beak. And there is no precedent either in the NRL to measure the sentence against. If we were to include sentences from other sports in Aus then some womens cricketers recently copped 2 years and a jockey got 18 months (in a sport that exists because of gambling…) I think if precedent in other Aus sports was admitted then it would favour Simona.
Kilgore Trout
Roar Rookie
It's a pretty easy decision to punt Simona . It may well work out to be a lifetime ban anyway. The NRL never do more than they need to and will be looking for the problem to solve itself from here . Some people will say " it's not tough enough", but it is a fair strategy in these litigious times . He's gone . It's done . The only sympathy I can muster , if any and if only sarcastically is , he won't be the last bloke brought undone by the ex .