Former Wests Tigers winger Tim Simona says he wants to return to the NRL next season five years after being banned for betting on matches.
Simona, who will make his [professional boxing debut on Wednesday on the undercard of the Paul Gallen vs. Darcy Lussick bout, told News Corp he had “served my punishment and learned from my mistakes”.
The former Samoan Test player, who is 30, said he deserved another shot at footy after making major changes in his life. Apart from the betting scandal, he was also involved in drug use and an incident with a children’s charity.
Simona, who works with disabled children, has via management had preliminary discussions with several NRL clubs, according to News Corp.
(Photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images)
Any interested club would have to an application for his reinstatement approved by the Australian Rugby League Commission.
Asked if he was chasing a return to rugby league, Simona said: “Yes, I am.
“My heart has always been with footy and to get back to NRL, that’s the dream.
“I feel like I’ve served my punishment and learned from my mistakes.
“But at the end of the day, it’s out of my control.
“So I’ll focus on what I can control, which means continuing to work hard, give back to the community and look after my family.
“I’ll keep doing that and hopefully I will get an opportunity again.”
Former NRL CEO boss Todd Greenberg said at the time: “Based on the evidence we have identified it is very hard to imagine Tim Simona will be registered with the NRL at any time in the future”.
Simona played this year with Manly Sea Eagles feeder club Blacktown.
“I’m not a fighter,” he said. But I do love competition.
“I’ve been out of the sporting arena for a while now so I wanted to test myself. Challenge myself.
“And I’m looking forward to it.”
Kent Dorfman
Roar Rookie
look at how many online betting adverts we see during sporting events!
Nat
Roar Guru
Merry Christmas cheechy. w ow u r s o very sma rt . d.id you le ar n th is tec hn ique of wr it ing fr m t he Mul lumb imb y po st? Sa yh it oyou r m um fo rme. It' sbee na wee k sin ceI left her Dren ched aga in. Yo u're we lcom e.
Drenched Again
Guest
Ohhhhh I couldn't possibly give him another chance,,,,vert you sig nal vert you sig nal, because I'm a beacon of perceived ethics and I'm way up here on this moral high ground ,,,,,But im happy to give Pfizzer the benefit of the doubt and turn a blind eye towards them after poisoning people for profit. Ya so f a r k in d u m b , and such a f a r k i n la me nugatory h y po crit e. It's actually becoming boring picking you off .,,,, if it wasn't for double standards, you'd have none at all BAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
Pedro
Guest
Just let him play. With the amount of ex Cons in and around this game you can't refuse him surely. It's not like he can do anymore damage to the image of RL
mushi
Roar Guru
Not really given a a professional foul is 10 in the bin not 4 years. Clearly there are varying degrees. Also someone using PEDs is cheating in alignment with expectations, ie still trying to win. Match fixing goes against that base expectation. He's deliberately sacrificing competitiveness not enhancing it.
mushi
Roar Guru
Because he was conveying vehement agreement.
Glory Bound
Roar Rookie
Then why comment at all if there is no point to your comment?
Drenched Again
Guest
Great idea mate
Redcap
Roar Guru
Fair enough.
The Sporacle
Roar Rookie
Wether you agree or disagree with the punishment Simona received, he has actually served his punishment. Was it sufficient, probably not.
Brainstrust
Roar Rookie
Match fixers shouldn't be banned longer than any other cheats. If drug cheats get 4 then same with match fixers. Warner, Smith, Bancroft got off lightly for the sand paper in this regard. The whole thing is about serving the interest of the sports betting companies.
Kent Dorfman
Roar Rookie
that's right JA, they are only sorry they were caught and amazingly when they are caught, it's always the first time that they have done it. How's that for bad luck eh - cheet once and get caught!
Wayne Turner
Guest
Just no. He is a disgrace. He should of got a life ban. NRL needs some standards,and not to be a rehab home for losers. If he is allowed back; NRL = No Real Leadership.
Nat
Roar Guru
Good morning John. You're right, had you asked when this happened i would have did 2-3yrs ago. Some apologies are based on what they've missed out on but what they did wrong in the first place. This one was bad, not only in the context in the game's integrity but to steal from/ take advantage of a charity. I would be ok with never hearing his name again.
The Barry
Roar Guru
No point me commenting here… you’ve hit the nail exactly on the head
Kent Dorfman
Roar Rookie
right on AMD
Kent Dorfman
Roar Rookie
everything he did was a pre thought out action. How would you feel if your team lost the SF or GF because he bet against his side / himself and he deliberately let them score the winning try? Oh and lets not forget how he harassed / bullied his former partner into the abortion because it would ruin "his" life. Grubs like that don't deserve to play in the NRL.
Mick Gold Coast QLD
Roar Guru
They're good at the fake sincerity, these blokes.
Jacko
Roar Rookie
Kent have you looked at what he has been doing since then?
Redcap
Roar Guru
“served my punishment and learned from my mistakes” __ I’m quite prepared to accept that he’s learned his lesson and that he’s turned an ethical corner. Good luck to the guy. __ He hasn’t served his punishment, though. What he did is fundamentally incompatible with being a professional athlete. __ I know the NRL has re-admitted some players with serious criminal convictions – and I’m not exactly thrilled about that – but Simona simply cannot be trusted from an integrity standpoint, and I doubt any NRL club would seriously consider him. __ It’s been controversial, but Major League Baseball has never wavered in its stance on Pete Rose or the Chicago Black Sox. __ The NRL shouldn’t either.