Tim Simona - Deregistered

MARCH 6 2017 - 8:00PM

Wests Tigers' Tim Simona may not face life ban for betting after fronting NRL

Michael Chammas

Tim Simona may escape a life ban from the sport for betting on matches after meeting with the NRL on Monday in an attempt to salvage what is left of his rugby league career.

Simona still will be deregistered from the NRL, however Fairfax Media understands the door for a return to the game might not be shut completely with the governing body considering allowing him to apply for registration after a suspension of between two to four years.

http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/league-news/wests-tigers-tim-simona-may-not-face-life-ban-for-betting-after-fronting-nrl-20170306-gursio.html

Fairfax Media understands Simona made admissions about his gambling in a three-hour meeting at League Central on Monday, which was attended by his manager Isaac Moses and Rugby League Players Association boss Ian Prendergast.

It is understood the 25-year-old Simona opened up on his gambling addiction that has left him battling financially for some time, placing enormous pressure and stress that led to his decision to bet on rugby league.

Simona met with NRL integrity unit chief investigator Karyn Murphy, who asked the Tigers centre to provide further written information over the next few days to support his case.

Murphy will compile a report into the investigation and provide it to NRL chief executive Todd Greenberg and new chief operating officer Nick Weeks to make the final call on a punishment either later in the week or early next week.

The NRL had originally earmarked a life ban as the suitable sanction given the strength of the evidence they had compiled after a tip off from Simona's former friend last year.

However the governing body has slightly softened its stance after meeting with Simona and is now weighing up whether to enforce an indefinite deregistration of between two to four years.

The NRL would require Simona to undergo education and prove he has overcome his gambling issues before even considering allowing him to return to the sport.

Given his age, an indefinite deregistration would still provide him the opportunity to return to the sport for a number of years.

The NRL has a gentleman's agreement in place with the English Super League that will see both competitions enforce any suspensions imposed.

The Australian Rugby Union recently stepped in to stop Ben Barba from playing in the Brisbane Tens, however there was little they could do about him taking up a deal with Toulon.

It looks likely overseas rugby union would be the logical step for Simona, allowing him a platform to continue his sporting career and rehabilitation.

His contract termination will solve the Tigers' salary cap problem and won't require the club to shed a player given his contract will be taken off the books for 2017.

Simona faced allegations that he arranged bets to be placed on opposition players he was marking to score tries against the Wests Tigers last season.

It is believed the alleged betting activity was made up of numerous minor bets, revolving around the opposition tryscorers in Tigers matches in 2016.
 
nothing like the term 'addiction' to soften the hearts of the games powerbrokers… If ya bet against your opposite number, your bum regardless what the peanuts at NRL Headquarters think!
 
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nothing like the term 'addiction' to soften the hearts of the games powerbrokers… If ya bet against your opposite number, your bum regardless what the peanuts at NRL Headquarters think!
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"Addiction" is the modern day go-to move.
It is worth a try, Foran's "mental issues" tripe sees him escaping anything resembling punishment after all his dodgy dealings last season. Good for the goose as they say.
 
Addiction is the new depression and vice versa.
What a joke. It's a get out of jail free card these days.

Will the doctors call it toomuchmoneyandtimeonmyhandsitis?
 
Some of you blokes clearly havent seen the damage gambling addiction can do, and how it can turn you into a completely different person
Whether its Simonas problem I dont know…sure looks like it....but its something not to be laughed off and I wouldnt wish this curse on anyone
 
@ said:
Some of you blokes clearly havent seen the damage gambling addiction can do, and how it can turn you into a completely different person
Whether its Simonas problem I dont know…sure looks like it....but its something not to be laughed off and I wouldnt wish this curse on anyone
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I have friends here who have lost their homes on the pokies but still can't stop, they ban themselves then come back again. It is like drowning they seem to go in a few inches deeper each time until too late. Years ago I absolutely blasted and even swore at one new friend who had starting and so she stayed away. Because everyone else does it in their group they do it. It is the culture so they cannot be blamed 100%.

I would be checking all Tim's bank accounts to see he was really at rock bottom before showing leniency. But it will always be an extremely low act if he compromised his game to win money.
 
When i just turned 18 i sat with a mate at the pokies and it ate 20 dollars he put in in about 5 minutes. Turned me right off there and then.
 
The NRL have proof he admitted that he knew what he was doing was wrong. Although it would seem the journos went off half c*?ked and that he wasn't better on opposition players to score against him but betting on himself to score (doesn't excuse it however). Unlikely he'd get life, more like 2 year ban. Either way he is done at WT
 
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The NRL have proof he admitted that he knew what he was doing was wrong. Although it would seem the journos went off half c*?ked and that he wasn't better on opposition players to score against him but betting on himself to score (doesn't excuse it however). Unlikely he'd get life, more like 2 year ban. Either way he is done at WT
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If he was not a ball hogger in attempting to score then only good came out of it for the team. Give the guy a promotion.
 
@ said:
The NRL have proof he admitted that he knew what he was doing was wrong. Although it would seem the journos went off half c*?ked and that he wasn't better on opposition players to score against him but betting on himself to score (doesn't excuse it however). Unlikely he'd get life, more like 2 year ban. Either way he is done at WT
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If it is true that Simona was not betting on opposition players to score but betting on himself to score the drama which was circulated about him facing a life ban was surely overdone. As I mentioned previously, top jockey John McDonald only received a two year ban for betting on the horse he was riding in the race.
 
Young men with too much time, and money and a public profile.
Soon they will work out that for every person they meet who wants to befriend them there will also be one that at any opportunity will want to take them down.
Its all about choices - and you can almost guarantee that if they make bad ones that at some point they are going to get found out.
Terrible shame if he has in fact a gambling problem, as it has been reported that he supports his family. When the league has kids in there system from teenager's they can't wipe their hands of them when they screw up. It's part of growing up, and NRL players are no different, regardless of the privileges. There has to be some duty of care and at least an opportunity for Tim to learn from his error, and have opportunity to get his career back on track.
 
@ said:
Some of you blokes clearly havent seen the damage gambling addiction can do, and how it can turn you into a completely different person
Whether its Simonas problem I dont know…sure looks like it....but its something not to be laughed off and I wouldnt wish this curse on anyone
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Nor their families, as it affects the whole unit.
 
@ said:
The NRL have proof he admitted that he knew what he was doing was wrong. Although it would seem the journos went off half c*?ked and that he wasn't better on opposition players to score against him but betting on himself to score (doesn't excuse it however). Unlikely he'd get life, more like 2 year ban. Either way he is done at WT
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That's hilarious :smiley: If that was the case then not much wrong as far as I can see, would've given him some extra motivation!
 
All this crap about "if the NRL loses it's integrity it loses the fans" is just absolute tripe. The NRL doesn't have much (if any) integrity, it is only because fans love the game itself, not the corrupt NRL, that people bother to support the game at all. That and the fact that there are no other worthwhile team sports for a fan to put their time, money, effort and passion into.
 
The NRL has set no deadline for Tim Simona to provide further information on his betting activities.
Wests Tigers skipper Aaron Woods has revealed how he tried to help embattled teammate Tim Simona deal with some off-field issues prior to his betting scandal.
Simona's playing future is under a cloud after meeting with the NRL on Monday to be interviewed over betting allegations that could result in a lifetime ban.
The NRL has asked the 25-year-old to hand over any further information to them as soon as possible as they finalise investigations into the saga.
Woods admitted he had been in touch with the Tigers centre to ensure his wellbeing, but said he had also previously been concerned about people influencing Simona off the field.
"I just wanted to make sure he's alright because obviously he's going to get hounded a fair bit from everybody," Woods said on Fox Sports NRL 360 on Tuesday.
"Look, I know he's been caught up with a couple… the people he's been hanging around probably hasn't helped at the same time.
"We've had a couple of discussions away from footy about the things that he can do. At the end of the day, we can only control what happens when he comes into Concord and trains with us."
It's understood the governing body is keen to conclude the matter quickly but no deadline has been set for Simona to hand in the documentation required.
Once it has been received, investigators will provide a report to NRL chief executive Todd Greenberg for a final determination.
However that might not be the end of the matter, with Simona holding the right to appeal any potential ban to the NRL appeals tribunal.
Simona has been stood down since last month, with the threat of contract deregistration, when it was alleged he had placed bets on NRL matches.
It has since been reported those claims allegedly extend to Simona placing bets on opposition players he was marking to score tries.
Greenberg has maintained a hardline stance on any potential match fixers, previously declaring he would ban anyone found guilty for life.
Canterbury captain James Graham recalled a situation earlier in his career at St Helens when teammates Sean Long and Martin Gleeson admitted betting against their team in 2004.
Graham said the Tigers would eventually deserve an explanation into the scandal.
"I remember it was front page news in the UK, in one of the national newspapers. It's only a small game back home. It's nothing like it is here in Australia," he said.
"And those implications, it was a really bad look for the game.
"But Sean and Martin sat down with the playing group and explained the situation to them. They were looking at six and three month suspensions between them.
"It really came down to their explanations to the lads. I think, not knowing Tim Simona and the situation too well at the Tigers, the club and the players deserve an explanation."

https://thewest.com.au/sport/rugby-league/nrl-want-simona-information-asap-ng-s-1688002
 
@ said:
@ said:
BBF is a fabulist, got a story for all occasions.

You've got more fables than Aesop.

Fables have a point, you're giving him too much credit…
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from presser at 6.00am today:
Aaron Woods: "**Look, I know he's been caught up with a couple… the people he's been hanging around probably hasn't helped at the same time**."

That was the exact point of my fable - society helps creates the problem gambler and I was doing the opposite. One for the SJW this time.
 
9 news now reporting that Simona is under investigation regarding donations to a charity he was involved with and what happened to the donations…..
 
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