Williams and another star player involved in betting scandal

[Titan4Life]

David Williams named as betting scandal erupts on eve of Origin, one star set to be banned six weeks
PHIL ROTHFIELD — EXCLUSIVE
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH
JULY 08, 2014 11:00PM

RUGBY League has been rocked by a betting scandal on the day of its showpiece third State of Origin game, with Manly star David Williams confirmed as one player involved.

A week after the Todd Carney photo shame, news emerged on Tuesday that the NRL is on the verge of banning a star player for betting on rugby league games.

The Daily Telegraph can reveal a big-name player from a Sydney club will be suspended for six weeks for breaking the code’s strict gambling guidelines.

A number of other players will be fined for betting in smaller amounts, all caught in an integrity unit audit of TAB and sports bookmaker betting records.

The Daily Telegraph online can this morning confirm one of the players involved is Manly’s glamour winger “Wolfman” Williams.

The Sea Eagles star was caught having a number of multi bets that involved AFL, soccer and rugby league matches.


It is understood he was betting from an Iphone app.

There is no suggestion he was involved in match fixing. The bets did not involve his Manly team.

Most of the bets are understood to have been traced from smartphones and account records.

The NRL has delayed the announcement until after Origin to protect sponsors and ensure a scandal-free build-up to Wednesday night’s third game in the series at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane.


Ryan Tandy was banned for life from the NRL after being found guilty of attempted match-fixing.
The NRL will call a press conference to announce the betting sanctions on Thursday, the first it has had to deal with since former Bulldogs forward, the late Ryan Tandy, was found guilty of attempted match-fixing.

Last night officials refused to reveal the identity of the player who has been suspended.

Parramatta has confirmed their halfback Chris Sandow, who has recently undergone counselling for gambling issues, was not involved.

The guilty players are expected to be named by the NRL, but there is no suggestion they were involved in any match-fixing activity.

Some were betting in amounts as small as $5.

The players involved have already been informed by the NRL of their penalties.

Under NRL guidelines, players, officials and coaches are banned from betting on NRL fixtures.

The ban also extends to player managers and any employees of the 16 clubs.


NRL boss Dave Smith and his team will deal with the scandal after State of Origin III is settled.
The betting press conference will conclude a month-long integrity unit investigation in which players and their agents and legal advisers were given the opportunity to defend charges.

Apart from the NRL deregistering Ryan Tandy in 2011, there is no record of other NRL players being suspended for betting on games.

The NRL’s integrity unit boss Jim Doyle recently said the gambling investigation was limited to a small number of players.

“Let me be clear that there is no suggestion of widespread abuse of betting rules or inappropriate conduct on the field related to betting,” Mr Doyle said.

“The integrity unit is looking into whether a small number of players have breached the Code of Conduct by placing small bets on rugby league games against our rules.

“If so, we will take appropriate action, which may include suspensions, to protect the interests of all players, fans and members.”

NRL integrity unit boss Jim Doyle says the investigation has been limited to a small number of players.

- - - Updated - - -

I wonder who the big name player from a Sydney club is? I have heard a strong rumour that is was Paul Gallen but I am not accusing anyone as of yet. At least it seems that no Titans are involved.

[Mexican titan]

I knew Manly was involved but if it's Williams, no real loss as he is playing NSW Cup at the moment.

[DIEHARD]

Not good for the game, but thankfully not a Titan.

[DIEHARD]

Thanks Courier Mail

image.jpg

[TITAN PETE]

NRL statement on betting on rugby league

NRL
3:39pm Thu 10th July, 2014


The NRL has suspended one player for the rest of the season and four other players for two games for betting on rugby league matches.

In addition, three casual game day officials have been terminated and nine others suspended for the rest of the season for betting breaches.

And the NRL has warned that the penalties for betting on Rugby League will be even tougher in the future as part of a zero tolerance package of reforms.

Chief Operating Officer Jim Doyle said today an audit of betting records covering more than 1500 registered players, officials and staff found no evidence of serious abuse of the betting laws or match fixing.

But the NRL had imposed a range of suspensions, terminations and warnings to those who have breached the betting rules.

In addition to the terminations and suspensions listed above, first and final warnings have been issued to 12 registered NRL players, staff and officials who placed small, isolated bets on rugby league matches. They either had no connection to the matches or were unaware they were prohibited from betting on those particular matches.

None of the staff who received warnings were in senior roles or able to have any influence on the outcome of games.

In the majority of cases where warnings were issued, the bets were small – often as little as $5 – and were not on matches involving their own club.

Mr Doyle said the NRL regards betting as a serious issue and has immediately suspended five players who bet on matches involving their own club.

"There is no suggestion of match fixing or inappropriate conduct on the field by those involved, but the Integrity Unit is determined to protect the interests of all players, fans and members."

Mr Doyle said those suspended were:
• David Williams - suspended for the rest of the 2014 season after placing multiple bets on games - including several in which he was involved.
• Ethan Lowe - suspended for two games for betting on one game in which his club was involved – but in which he did not participate.
• Cody Nelson - suspended for two games for betting on one game in which his club was involved – but in which he did not participate.
• Hymel Hunt - suspended for two games for betting on one game in which his club was involved – but in which he did not participate.
• Slade Griffin - suspended for two games for betting on one game in which his club was involved – but in which he did not participate.

Mr Doyle said the new zero tolerance policy would see:
• Every player from every club will be required to sign a document demonstrating that they fully understand and will comply with the NRL's betting rules.
• All staff and officials will be required to confirm that they fully understand and will comply with the betting rules.
• Audits of betting records will be conducted more regularly to detect if any breaches occur.
• Players, staff and officials will in future face termination or suspension for any breach – no matter how small the bet is.

Mr Doyle said anyone who breaches the betting rules in the future can expect to spend a long stint on the sideline or lose their job.

"We are going to step up our education of the rules and every player, official and employee is on notice that there will be no excuses for betting on games in future," he said.

"The NRL will continue to work with the betting agencies to ensure there is no threat to the integrity of our game."

[Titan4Life]

Damn Cody Nelson was involved. Did not expect him to be one of the players