STRIKE Force Suburb detectives have released CCTV footage of a man they hope will help them crack open the possible match fixing allegations surrounding the round 24 NRL match between the Bulldogs and the Cowboys.
Police have released images of a man who placed one of the first suspicious bets on the match.
The man placed a bet that the first points would come from a North Queensland penalty goal at about 1pm on August 19 at a hotel on Parramatta Road at Flemington.
Over the next two days a suspiciously high number of similar bets were placed, with punters standing to win more than $250,000.
Bulldog prop Ryan Tandy famously lost the ball with his first hit-up of the match and then gave a penalty away in front of the posts.
But the Cowboys rejected the shot at a penalty goal and instead scored a try as the first play of the match.
``As this was one of the earliest bets placed on the game we believe he may have information that can assist our investigation,'' said Detective Superintendent Arthur Katsogiannis, commander of the Firearms and Organised Crime Squad.
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He said more than 80 people had so far been interviewed, including relevant players from the match, with the man identified in the CCTV footage one of the last unidentified people under investigation.
He said the scandal, being investigated by Strike Force Suburb, risked eroding public confidence in all sport.
``If true, the allegations go to the heart and the integrity of the game,'' Det. Supt. Katsogiannis said.
While he would not speculate on if or when charges would be laid, he said he was ``very optimistic'' about the chance of success.
