Manly boss says club has been hung out to dry on fixing
Manly chairman Scott Penn has spoken of his disappointment at what he believes is a lack of support from Rugby League Central over the match-fixing scandal, claiming the club has been hung out to dry when the game should have adopted a collaborative approach to the allegations.
Penn, speaking the day after police announced the formation of Strike Force Nuralda to work with the NSW Crime Commission to investigate allegations surrounding three Sea Eagles matches over the past two years, reiterated the club would do everything in its power to support the inquiry. However, he made it clear he was disappointed with the club being left to fend for themselves since match-fixing revelations broke three months ago.
“There is some disappointment that there hasn’t been a collaborative approach,” Penn said. “I think this is a whole-of-game issue because there is betting in the game. It should be a collaborative approach, it should be the club and the NRL working together.
“I am disappointed we have had to do it on our own. We had to bring in our own integrity police. We certainly have been hung out to dry to a degree. We have been left to our own devices to fight this. It’s just disappointing.”
The situation has heightened dramatically in recent days, with police outlining their plans to interview players, officials and parties of interest in relation to the matter this week.
Those talks are expected to begin today as the police and crime commission focus on a range of individuals who may be able to provide evidence. Aside from players, agents and bookmakers are expected to be called before the inquiry.
Penn has vowed that his club will work with the investigation as they attempt to bring the traumatic matter to a close.
The latest developments come at a sensitive time for the club, which is coming to the end of a difficult season and fighting a battlewith major sponsor Coco Joy.
Both have put a drain on club finances, although Penn is confident Manly will have no problem filling the sponsorship void even with the match-fixing investigation afoot. Of more concern is bringing the matter to a close and removing the grey cloud that continues to hang over the club.
Reports have suggested at least six current players could be interviewed by police, who are believed to already be in possession of the phone of one of those at the centre of the allegations.
There were reports last night police would expand their investigation to some under 20s games. It is understood one of those games led to punters winning heavily amid allegations they had received inside information that one of the leading sides was planning to rest two of its star players, leading to them suffering a heavy loss
Brisbane coach Wayne Bennett admitted he struggled to get his head around the allegations, which centre around three games over the past two years involving the Manly club.
“I don’t know the scale of match-fixing, but I am surprised. I can’t get my head around it, I’ve never seen it at any club I have coached,” Bennett said.
“It is just weird to me. We are a victim of lots of things in our society, but it’s more manipulative than it’s ever been because you have so many options to bet these days. With all the margins and options, it’s open to manipulation. You might have one or two lone wolves in the joint who do things you don’t notice because of all the opportunities to bet.
“Cricket is a victim of it because of all the situations involved, soccer has been involved recently. Sometimes you can’t just cut ties. We have to take responsibility and do more education.
“I see they have cut back with TV ads and I was offended by those as a parent and grandparent. But we live in a free country and should be able to make a choice.
“We shouldn’t say no one can have a bet, but we have to be vigilant. It’s not part of our psyche at this club to throw games. It is ingrained here to compete. I’ve been at two other clubs and never saw it there either.”
NRL chief executive Todd Greenberg was reluctant to continue the debate yesterday. Greenberg, attended a luncheon to mark St George’s historic run of 11 premierships, a welcome respite after a tough week for the code .
“It is also a reminder that as much as we focus on what is in front of us, history is important,” Greenberg said.
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/spo...g/news-story/eaccdb55fcb72f715d0f076cf2970059
