[Greenberg cleared over Tandy betting allegations
NRL
5:01pm Fri 16th May, 2014
An independent report has found no reliable evidence that NRL Head of Football, Mr Todd Greenberg, was shown a betting ledger or text messages revealing that former Bulldogs player Ryan Tandy was betting on Rugby League matches.
The report, by barrister Dominic Villa, is based on interviews with Mr Greenberg, the general manager of football operations at the Bulldogs, Mr Alan Thompson, and jockey agent John Schell.
"In my view there is no reliable evidence that Mr Thompson or Mr Greenberg were shown the betting ledger or relevant text messages revealing that Mr Tandy bet on Rugby League matches," Mr Villa's report said.
NRL CEO, Mr Dave Smith, said he was pleased the matter had been dealt with thoroughly and professionally and that the suggestions that Mr Greenberg knew about Mr Tandy betting on Rugby League matches had been rejected.
The inquiry followed claims on the ABC's 7.30 program that Mr Schell said he showed Mr Greenberg and Mr Thompson a betting ledger with details of a series of losing bets by Mr Tandy on racing and Rugby League matches during a meeting in August 2010.
The NRL's Integrity Unit engaged Mr Villa to inquire into the matter.
Mr Villa said both Mr Greenberg and Mr Thompson denied that Mr Schell told them that Mr Tandy was betting on Rugby League matches.
He said Mr Schell accepted that he was "quite unable" to say whether Mr Greenberg or Mr Thompson saw the betting ledger, whether they looked at it or whether they read it during their meeting.
"He readily conceded that he did not show them the ledger for the purpose of identifying the bets on Rugby League games and did not otherwise expressly make reference to Mr Tandy having bet on Rugby League games."
Mr Villa also pointed to a transcript of evidence made during Mr Tandy's criminal proceedings where Mr Schell said he believed he showed Mr Greenberg and Mr Thompson the ledger "but I can't be 100 per cent sure".
In relation to text messages, Mr Schell told the criminal proceedings that "I may have shown some, I can't be 100 per cent sure."
Mr Villa said Mr Schell did not suggest he took Mr Greenberg and Mr Thompson through the 107 text messages on his phone relating to Mr Tandy's betting activities.
"Mr Schell does not suggest that he told them about the bets on Rugby League matches and concedes it would have been contrary to his interest in getting paid to have done so," the report said.
"As a result of my investigation, I am not satisfied that John Schell conveyed any information to either Alan Thompson or Todd Greenberg at the meeting at Café Raw in Homebush on 18 August 2010 about gambling activities of Ryan Tandy on Rugby League matches."
NRL Chief Operating Officer, Mr Jim Doyle, said the NRL had moved quickly to ensure there was a review of the allegations.
Mr Doyle said he appreciated that all the participants, particularly Mr Schell, had co-operated with the inquiry
He said that, following media reports relating to counselling for Ben Barba, the NRL's welfare division will review the assistance he has received so far from the Bulldogs and Broncos and on-going counselling requirements.
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