Tim Simona

[gallagher]

Meh.
We need a centre and Tims a good one. Best ring the board while they've still got amnesia Timo.

 

[snowleopard]

Meh.
We need a centre and Tims a good one. Best ring the board while they've still got amnesia Timo.

Made me laugh but seems very true although Benji and Robbie’s crones were against there employer not society

 

[voice_of_reason]

My opinion on this.

First, and most importantly, the games he played were reviewed and it was determined he made NO attempt to 'throw' a game. Let's just get that solidly in our minds. He did NOT 'dog' his teammates.

By comparison consider Lillee/Marsh in 1981 where they bet against Australia in a test they were playing. The Poms miraculously won and their payout was the current day equivalent of $25,000 pounds. For this they received no sanction at all - none.

As for the jerseys, this is the result of a man feeding a gambling habit. Yes, it's morally bankrupt but we're talking a few hundred dollars. Pay the money to the charities, do some community service with them and I'd be satisfied.

As for the coke use, he gets whatever the drug penalties are. I don't know what the league has for recreational drugs but professional sport is normally 2 years for performance enhancing and I'd think he's close to serving that already.

My feeling is he should be let back. At his age I did stupid things too and I'm sure his relationship crumbling wasn't helping either.

I believe the punishment should fit the crime and I don't believe his 'crimes' warranted a total destruction of his career.

 

[TrueTiger]

There are plenty of everyday people who have done virtually the same things that Tim has done, in particular not giving charities money owed to them and the use of drugs..
These people get caught and have to under go societies rehab programs and after proving they have been rehabilitated go back in the workforce and get on with their lives,many more have also have avoided paying taxes and embezzeled monies..
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If Tim was not in the public eye by being a top NRL star,would we all be calling for him to be banned or do we give him the opportunity that society gives the every day person who we don't even know to redeem themselves…
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It seems just personal opinion whether or not many agree or not...I would let him do some more community work and if he does well then give him a chance at playing the game he loves...after all he hasn't murdered,raped or bashed anyone ….
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This is just my opinion.....we are all Gods creatures....

 

[Glennb]

People who are comparing Simona to Packer, Av'au etc are missing the point. What Packer, Lodge et al did is much worse obviously BUT what Simona did actually impacts the very nature and integrity of the sport and therefore for mine he must be banned for life from all RL despite the fact that Packer etc are all back.

 

[voice_of_reason]

People who are comparing Simona to Packer, Av'au etc are missing the point. What Packer, Lodge et al did is much worse obviously BUT what Simona did actually impacts the very nature and integrity of the sport and therefore for mine he must be banned for life from all RL despite the fact that Packer etc are all back.

I disagree - it impacts the integrity of a young man who made a silly mistake. He gained nothing and lost everything. Those two things don't reconcile to what he did.

What Lillee and Marsh did was way worse - they made a significant financial gain and when they placed the bets Australia only needed 3 wickets to win - Australia lost and Lille/Marsh walked away with a motza. Even Steve Smith et all only received a year for deliberate and pre-meditated cheating. That is far more damning.

We're willing to have wife beaters, assaulters, drink drivers, drug users and perpetrators of sexual assault in our game but placing a two bob bet gets you banned for life.

I'm not defending what he did, but I believe he deserves a second chance. Isn't this exactly what the NRL try to achieve with rehabilitating people through sport?

 

[tsjonathan]

People who are comparing Simona to Packer, Av'au etc are missing the point. What Packer, Lodge et al did is much worse obviously BUT what Simona did actually impacts the very nature and integrity of the sport and therefore for mine he must be banned for life from all RL despite the fact that Packer etc are all back.

**We're willing to have wife beaters, assaulters, drink drivers, drug users and perpetrators of sexual assault in our game but placing a two bob bet gets you banned for life.**

I'm not defending what he did, but I believe he deserves a second chance. Isn't this exactly what the NRL try to achieve with rehabilitating people through sport?

Agreed

 

[TonyTiger]

Good luck to him, was a gun centre when playing for us.

 

[Silentio]

The crazy thing is, it seems like Simona didn't personally gain much.

He may have jeopardized the integrity of the game to some small degree, but he mostly hurt himself. It wasn't like he was part of some cricket-esque sub continent betting cartel.

His decisions were no doubt, very, very dumb but it shows the desperate lengths that humans will go to when sucked into the black hole of addiction.

The sport as a whole has some responsibility to support fellas like Simona.

Playing professional footy is not like working as a sparky. The pressure exerted on players is immense, so it shouldn't be surprising when blokes go off the rails from time to time. This is why clubs have started taking player welfare more seriously.

If Simona has control of his demons, has learned, is qualified and wants to help others, he'd probably be a good welfare officer.

But putting him back into the pressure cooker of NRL footy would be irresponsible.

 

[Harvey]

i was overseas when this simona thing happened

anyone have the exact facts of what he was charged with?

I can't say exactly, but he was betting on the player that he was marking to be the first try scorer in the game (amongst other betting on games he played in but always against his team). And it was stupidly low amounts of money, not even a hundred bucks, when his salary was much higher. Clearly a gambling problem.

He (and his girlfriend I thought) were auctioning off signed jerseys for charity and keeping the cash for themselves,

I don't remember where the drugs came into it. But I think he and the girlfriend had a falling out, and that's when stuff starting to hit the media.

Not sure that is correct. He was placing loads of small bets on NRL. Tigers games amongst others including first try scorers where he was backing himself, teammates and opposition players including those he was marking.
Signs of a chronic gambling problem

 

[Red88_Tiger]

Gus tried to sign lodge so I expect the writing is on the wall. Also peachy is leaving

 

[Demps]

Gus tried to sign lodge so I expect the writing is on the wall. Also peachy is leaving

What writing?
Defo one of the clubs on the rise.
Just loses players like every other club.
Has one of the greatest junior systems ever… Place has put its self in a very nice position for the future.
Wallace retires and probably fall straight into a coaching role.
Could be a lot worse (Parramatta)

 

[Red88_Tiger]

Gus tried to sign lodge so I expect the writing is on the wall. Also peachy is leaving

What writing?
Defo one of the clubs on the rise.
Just loses players like every other club.
Has one of the greatest junior systems ever… Place has put its self in a very nice position for the future.
Wallace retires and probably fall straight into a coaching role.
Could be a lot worse (Parramatta)

As in Simona will be on penrith roster

 

[upthetigers]

Gus tried to sign lodge so I expect the writing is on the wall. Also peachy is leaving

What writing?
Defo one of the clubs on the rise.
Just loses players like every other club.
Has one of the greatest junior systems ever… Place has put its self in a very nice position for the future.
Wallace retires and probably fall straight into a coaching role.
Could be a lot worse (Parramatta)

As in Simona will be on penrith roster

Highly doubt it.

 

[Demps]

Gus tried to sign lodge so I expect the writing is on the wall. Also peachy is leaving

What writing?
Defo one of the clubs on the rise.
Just loses players like every other club.
Has one of the greatest junior systems ever… Place has put its self in a very nice position for the future.
Wallace retires and probably fall straight into a coaching role.
Could be a lot worse (Parramatta)

As in Simona will be on penrith roster

Highly doubt it.

That's the word tho…
Hopefully he is booed any time he touches the ball.

 

[colmcd]

He should join our community programs seeing all the damage he did to our fans and our brand through his actions. Not the Panthers.

I think he and his brother Paul were juniors there before moving to the tigers and then sharks for Paul and unemployment for Tim.

I would figure some game here. Hire Tim and have Paul as a rider… Except this isn't Easts, its Panthers. They have Juniors and hopeful's coming out of their ears. I can't imagine either Simona would be highly rated.

So I imagine it is a straight welfare role. Smells fishy, I really don't get it and I think other players have been through more. Happy for the guy to be forgiven and rehabilitated, but as a brick layer.

 

[Demps]

He should join our community programs seeing all the damage he did to our fans and our brand through his actions. Not the Panthers.

I think he and his brother Paul were juniors there before moving to the tigers and then sharks for Paul and unemployment for Tim.

I would figure some game here. Hire Tim and have Paul as a rider… Except this isn't Easts, its Panthers. They have Juniors and hopeful's coming out of their ears. I can't imagine either Simona would be highly rated.

So I imagine it is a straight welfare role. Smells fishy, I really don't get it and I think other players have been through more. Happy for the guy to be forgiven and rehabilitated, but as a brick layer.

I'm with ya…
The guy is a thief.

 

[upthetigers]

What writing?
Defo one of the clubs on the rise.
Just loses players like every other club.
Has one of the greatest junior systems ever… Place has put its self in a very nice position for the future.
Wallace retires and probably fall straight into a coaching role.
Could be a lot worse (Parramatta)

As in Simona will be on penrith roster

Highly doubt it.

That's the word tho…
Hopefully he is booed any time he touches the ball.

What player would want to play alongside him. Makes me sick in my stomach just thinking about it.

 

[Demps]

As in Simona will be on penrith roster

Highly doubt it.

That's the word tho…
Hopefully he is booed any time he touches the ball.

What player would want to play alongside him. Makes me sick in my stomach just thinking about it.

Haha so dramatic.
But yeah, Sbw got voted most hated by Australian public ahead of the Bali bombers back when he walked out on the bulldogs. Way back when..

What Simona did was much worse.

 

[tigerbenji]

Voice of Reason, You are spot on, what he did was wrong. Other players have done worse & nothing happens, I just think he deserves a second chance.