PARRAMATTA Eels rookie Brad Murray is not the only rugby league identity linked by CCTV footage to the sport's ugly betting scandal.
Murray was identified in footage released yesterday, but a second man's suspicious betting patterns have also been caught on camera - with the images now in the hands of police.
The Daily Telegraph has learned the man, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, visited five TABs during a five-hour betting plunge in the days before the contentious Cowboys-Bulldogs match in August last year.
The man changed outfits for each TAB, but not his betting patterns - he was backing the Cowboys to score first with a penalty goal.
The CCTV footage of the man - who has links to current players - has become part of the police investigation, but detectives yesterday refused to confirm or deny the man's involvement.
It is unknown how much money was gambled.
Investigation head Detective Superintendent Arthur Katsogiannis would not confirm the nature of what police had viewed on CCTV.
"We have examined a host of CCTV footage depicting individuals placing bets on the game. I'm not prepared to elaborate on who those individuals may be," he said.
However, the images of Murray are the only ones to be released by police investigating possible charges over the betting scam.
Officers released the image yesterday, asking for the public to help identify him.
Soon after, Murray's identity was passed on to police, who are yet to speak to him.
Murray, who played for the Roosters last season before joining Parramatta for the next three years, was named in the 2010 Toyota Cup team of the year.
He placed his bet, backing the Cowboys to score first in the match via a penalty goal, on August 19 in a Flemington hotel on Parramatta Rd. Over the next two days a number of similar bets were placed by others around the country, with punters standing to collect more than $250,000.
"We didn't go into the specifics but, yes, I have spoken to Brad," said Parramatta chief executive Paul Osborne.
"It is a difficult time for him and his family but I've encouraged him to fully co-operate with police."
Asked would his club consider sacking Murray, Osborne said: "It's too early."
Murray is managed by Sam Ayoub, also the agent for Bulldogs prop Ryan Tandy, who has denied any wrong-doing despite losing the ball with his first hit-up of the match and conceding a penalty in front of his side's posts.
Mr Ayoub would not return calls last night.
Supt Katsogiannis said he was "optimistic" the investigation would uncover the truth behind the betting.
No charges have been laid.
More than 80 people have been interviewed, including players from the match.
NRL chief David Gallop said: "It is difficult to comment until the police investigation is complete."
Supt Katsogiannis said the scandal "if true" risked eroding public confidence in all sports.
