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Crime Command takes over NRL betting inquiry
Greg Prichard and Craig Young
SMH
September 2, 2010
ELITE detectives from the State Crime Command have been appointed to investigate the NRL betting scandal in a clear indication of how serious the NSW Police Force regards the incident.
The decision came after a meeting of the police, the NRL and AJC chief steward Ray Murrihy, at which the police were shown results of the investigation so far and were convinced they should get involved. ''If figures take you in a certain direction it would be unwise to wait until all figures are complete and delay any investigation,'' Murrihy said.
The racing boss also revealed his examination of details of betting transactions, provided to him by bookmakers, showed a large percentage of the bets had come from the same point.
The highly unusual plunge in question was on a North Queensland penalty goal as the first scoring play in the game against Canterbury in Townsville last Saturday week. First scoring play is generally regarded as a novelty option and a penalty goal usually attracts little interest.
The Cowboys did have the choice of opening the scoring with a penalty goal when Bulldogs forward Ryan Tandy was penalised in front of the posts in the second minute for not getting off the tackled player quickly enough.
The Cowboys took a quick tap instead and scored a try.
NRL chief executive David Gallop yesterday stressed the league's concern: ''Clearly this is a matter that requires the most thorough investigation possible and we believe it is in everyone's interests for the police to be involved.''
A police statement yesterday said: ''A determination will be made in due time in relation to the appropriate course of action.''
Veteran bookmaker Gerard Daffy yesterday welcomed police involvement: ''Irrespective of the outcome, that is a positive development, because it serves as a warning that gambling is a serious business which is highly regulated.''
■ Melbourne Storm's Greg Inglis will have shoulder surgery this month, which will rule him out of Australia's Four Nations campaign. Inglis plays his last game for the Storm against Newcastle at AAMI Park on Sunday after signing with the Broncos.
''Inglis is expected to have the surgery in the next few weeks, meaning he is certain to be fit for the Broncos when the 2011 NRL season commences in mid-March,'' the Broncos said on their website yesterday.
■ Penrith captain Petero Civoniceva has taken an early guilty plea for his reckless high tackle on Bulldog Gary Warburton, an action that resulted in his sending off on Monday.
The prop will serve a two-match ban and sit out Saturday's final round against Cronulla, as well as the club's first home final since 2004 the following week.
With AAP
Link: http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/...-over-nrl-betting-inquiry-20100901-14njm.html
Top cops tackle betting scandal
Greg Prichard and Craig Young
SMH
September 2, 2010
Furore ... a penalty against Bulldogs prop Ryan Tandy during a match against the
Cowboys is now part of a police investigation. Photo: Brendan Esposito
THE NSW Police Force has appointed elite detectives from the State Crime Command to investigate the NRL betting scandal in a clear indication of how seriously it regards the possibility that a fraud has occurred.
The decision follows a meeting between the police, the NRL and AJC chief steward Ray Murrihy on Tuesday, at which the police were shown results of the investigation so far. Yesterday, police became formally involved.
Murrihy advised the NRL to approach the police before he completed his report on behalf of the league, and yesterday told the Herald: "If figures take you in a certain direction, it would be unwise to wait until all figures are complete and delay any investigation."
The racing boss also revealed his examination of details of betting transactions, provided to him by bookmakers, had revealed a large percentage of the bets had come from the same point. "Yes, I do know the identity of the source of much of the money, but I haven't gone through all of the betting sheets yet."
NRL officials were clearly concerned at the possibility that fraudulent behaviour might have occurred, and wanted to have it properly investigated. The police have investigative powers well beyond those of the league, and intend to use them to get to the bottom of the matter. The highly unusual plunge in question was on a North Queensland penalty goal as the first scoring play in the game against Canterbury in Townsville last Saturday week. First scoring play is generally regarded as a novelty option and a penalty goal usually attracts little interest.
It didn't come off, but as it turned out the Cowboys did have the choice of opening the scoring with a penalty goal when Bulldogs forward Ryan Tandy was penalised in front of the posts in the second minute for not getting off the tackled player quickly enough. The Cowboys took a quick tap instead and scored a try. NRL chief executive David Gallop yesterday stressed the league's concern when he said: "Clearly, this is a matter that requires the most thorough investigation possible, and we believe it is in everyone's interests for the police to be involved."
Police do not become involved in incidents such as this unless they are investigating an allegation of criminal behaviour or they believe there is the chance a crime has been committed. The Casino and Racing Investigation unit of the SCC will conduct the investigation, which is likely to take weeks and might not be completed until after the grand final has been played, on October 3.
Police, because of the combination of the force being under-resourced and the fact previous investigations into league-related matters have not resulted in charges being laid would not have become involved in something like this unless they believed there was a clear trail to follow.
And when police did become involved after the meeting with the league and Murrihy it could have been handed to police at any level to investigate. But they decided to get their top men involved.
Murrihy said it was his view the matter "should be thoroughly aired and taken to the police", adding: "The weighting of the bets in respect to this particular bet type are pointing you in a certain direction."
There have been rumours around about the identity of figures allegedly involved in the plunge but Murrihy said: "I'm not prepared to comment on any individuals."
Police issued a statement yesterday, which read, in part: "Police are currently in the process of conducting preliminary inquiries, including the examination of material provided by the NRL. As such, a determination will be made in due time in relation to the appropriate course of action."
Bookie Gerard Daffy, from the sportsalive.com agency, yesterday welcomed the involvement of the police.
Link: http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/league-news/top-cops-tackle-betting-scandal-20100901-14nox.html
Greg Prichard and Craig Young
SMH
September 2, 2010
ELITE detectives from the State Crime Command have been appointed to investigate the NRL betting scandal in a clear indication of how serious the NSW Police Force regards the incident.
The decision came after a meeting of the police, the NRL and AJC chief steward Ray Murrihy, at which the police were shown results of the investigation so far and were convinced they should get involved. ''If figures take you in a certain direction it would be unwise to wait until all figures are complete and delay any investigation,'' Murrihy said.
The racing boss also revealed his examination of details of betting transactions, provided to him by bookmakers, showed a large percentage of the bets had come from the same point.
The highly unusual plunge in question was on a North Queensland penalty goal as the first scoring play in the game against Canterbury in Townsville last Saturday week. First scoring play is generally regarded as a novelty option and a penalty goal usually attracts little interest.
The Cowboys did have the choice of opening the scoring with a penalty goal when Bulldogs forward Ryan Tandy was penalised in front of the posts in the second minute for not getting off the tackled player quickly enough.
The Cowboys took a quick tap instead and scored a try.
NRL chief executive David Gallop yesterday stressed the league's concern: ''Clearly this is a matter that requires the most thorough investigation possible and we believe it is in everyone's interests for the police to be involved.''
A police statement yesterday said: ''A determination will be made in due time in relation to the appropriate course of action.''
Veteran bookmaker Gerard Daffy yesterday welcomed police involvement: ''Irrespective of the outcome, that is a positive development, because it serves as a warning that gambling is a serious business which is highly regulated.''
■ Melbourne Storm's Greg Inglis will have shoulder surgery this month, which will rule him out of Australia's Four Nations campaign. Inglis plays his last game for the Storm against Newcastle at AAMI Park on Sunday after signing with the Broncos.
''Inglis is expected to have the surgery in the next few weeks, meaning he is certain to be fit for the Broncos when the 2011 NRL season commences in mid-March,'' the Broncos said on their website yesterday.
■ Penrith captain Petero Civoniceva has taken an early guilty plea for his reckless high tackle on Bulldog Gary Warburton, an action that resulted in his sending off on Monday.
The prop will serve a two-match ban and sit out Saturday's final round against Cronulla, as well as the club's first home final since 2004 the following week.
With AAP
Link: http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/...-over-nrl-betting-inquiry-20100901-14njm.html
Top cops tackle betting scandal
Greg Prichard and Craig Young
SMH
September 2, 2010
Furore ... a penalty against Bulldogs prop Ryan Tandy during a match against the
Cowboys is now part of a police investigation. Photo: Brendan Esposito
THE NSW Police Force has appointed elite detectives from the State Crime Command to investigate the NRL betting scandal in a clear indication of how seriously it regards the possibility that a fraud has occurred.
The decision follows a meeting between the police, the NRL and AJC chief steward Ray Murrihy on Tuesday, at which the police were shown results of the investigation so far. Yesterday, police became formally involved.
Murrihy advised the NRL to approach the police before he completed his report on behalf of the league, and yesterday told the Herald: "If figures take you in a certain direction, it would be unwise to wait until all figures are complete and delay any investigation."
The racing boss also revealed his examination of details of betting transactions, provided to him by bookmakers, had revealed a large percentage of the bets had come from the same point. "Yes, I do know the identity of the source of much of the money, but I haven't gone through all of the betting sheets yet."
NRL officials were clearly concerned at the possibility that fraudulent behaviour might have occurred, and wanted to have it properly investigated. The police have investigative powers well beyond those of the league, and intend to use them to get to the bottom of the matter. The highly unusual plunge in question was on a North Queensland penalty goal as the first scoring play in the game against Canterbury in Townsville last Saturday week. First scoring play is generally regarded as a novelty option and a penalty goal usually attracts little interest.
It didn't come off, but as it turned out the Cowboys did have the choice of opening the scoring with a penalty goal when Bulldogs forward Ryan Tandy was penalised in front of the posts in the second minute for not getting off the tackled player quickly enough. The Cowboys took a quick tap instead and scored a try. NRL chief executive David Gallop yesterday stressed the league's concern when he said: "Clearly, this is a matter that requires the most thorough investigation possible, and we believe it is in everyone's interests for the police to be involved."
Police do not become involved in incidents such as this unless they are investigating an allegation of criminal behaviour or they believe there is the chance a crime has been committed. The Casino and Racing Investigation unit of the SCC will conduct the investigation, which is likely to take weeks and might not be completed until after the grand final has been played, on October 3.
Police, because of the combination of the force being under-resourced and the fact previous investigations into league-related matters have not resulted in charges being laid would not have become involved in something like this unless they believed there was a clear trail to follow.
And when police did become involved after the meeting with the league and Murrihy it could have been handed to police at any level to investigate. But they decided to get their top men involved.
Murrihy said it was his view the matter "should be thoroughly aired and taken to the police", adding: "The weighting of the bets in respect to this particular bet type are pointing you in a certain direction."
There have been rumours around about the identity of figures allegedly involved in the plunge but Murrihy said: "I'm not prepared to comment on any individuals."
Police issued a statement yesterday, which read, in part: "Police are currently in the process of conducting preliminary inquiries, including the examination of material provided by the NRL. As such, a determination will be made in due time in relation to the appropriate course of action."
Bookie Gerard Daffy, from the sportsalive.com agency, yesterday welcomed the involvement of the police.
Link: http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/league-news/top-cops-tackle-betting-scandal-20100901-14nox.html
