Stench of bet-sting syndicate lingers
* Stuart Honeysett
* From: The Australian
* September 16, 2010 12:00AM
THE NRL's worst fears were realised yesterday.
One of the most exciting finals series in recent memory was overshadowed by allegations a betting syndicate involving players, agents and underworld figures was fixing matches.
With an ongoing investigation into the Canterbury-North Queensland game two weeks ago, a Sydney radio station aired renewed claims over several matches this season.
The claims were immediately dismissed by the NRL, but that didn't stop match-fixing and gambling becoming a topic of discussion throughout the day.
Penrith coach Matthew Elliott, preparing for a semi-final against the Sydney Roosters on Saturday night, was asked his thoughts on gambling on NRL matches at his morning press conference.
Even Australia captain Darren Lockyer was asked.
"Everything we know about is in the hands of the police and that doesn't include the rumours that were thrown around this morning," NRL media and communication director John Brady said.
"If anyone does have any information for the police, I am sure they would be more than interested in having it."
The topic was put back on the agenda by former Test forward turned commentator Mark Geyer, who said on radio he had been shaken by the rumours and they would hurt the game immeasurably if they true.
"It makes me ill, we've been speaking about the cricket last month, about the Pakistanis and saying how bad they are . . . now it's in our own backyard and the names that have been mentioned aren't just fringe first graders -- these are blokes that are on two, three, four hundred thousand a year," Geyer told Triple M.
"Which makes me wonder why, why would you risk everything you are in this game, everything people know you're about, for the sake of money.
"If this is true, and I hope it's not, I really hope it's not . . . rugby league as you know it will never be the same again."
Geyer wouldn't name the matches in question but said he had gone back and reviewed them and there were elements of play that were suspicious.
"After hearing the rumours from different sources, I have gone back and looked at the games in question," Geyer said.
"It makes me have some doubt on a few of the things I am getting spoken to about.
"I watched the games closely and put doubt in my mind.
"Whether I am just looking for that, I don't know, because of what I heard.
"If the NRL did know about it, they would have named names by now because they'd want these bastards out of the game quick smart."
TAB Sportsbet's Glenn Munsie scoffed at the rumours of a syndicate of players, managers and underworld figures fixing matches this season.
He added the constant speculation of betting stings was hurting the code and the only match he was aware of being investigated was the Canterbury-North Queensland game.
"I've never heard anything about it," Munsie said of the rumours.
"We're the biggest operator in the country and hold more money on rugby league than any other sports betting organisation in the land and we can't offer any credence to it."
Elliott echoed the comments of St George Illawarra's Wayne Bennett, who said last week there were too many variables with multiple betting options that could be easily manipulated.
"People can't manipulate you if that opportunity or option is not there -- so let's just remove it," Elliott said yesterday.
"I guess it was inevitable that was going to happen because you keep dangling a carrot in front of people's face, too . . . let's just get rid of it."
Munsie said "Ten years ago there were eight different markets on the rugby league -- now you can get upwards of 40. These markets were created out of customer demand."
