TheDaBoss
Well-known member
@ said:
x2
its just that he chose the worst time to try and come back..
Tim Simona
- Thread starter Demps
- Start date
x2
its just that he chose the worst time to try and come back..
TheDaBoss
Well-known member
Disgraced former Wests Tigers player Tim Simona will submit a formal request to end NRL ban
Disgraced former Wests Tigers player Tim Simona is reportedly preparing a formal bid to overturn an indefinite NRL ban for one of the biggest betting scandals in the game’s history.
It’s been almost two years since the now 27-year-old was deregistered for betting on NRL matches, also copping an 18-month good behaviour bond for defrauding charities by selling signed merchandise and keeping the money.
The Sunday Telegraph is reporting Simona will meet with the Rugby League Players Association this week to present a dossier and a letter outlining the community work he has undertaken since the ban, including working with charities Camp Quality and Salvation Army.He has also reportedly completed sessions with a gambling psychologist and now works as a personal trainer for special needs children.
“The past two years have been the hardest of my life,’’ Simona wrote.
“I appreciate the invaluable lessons I have learnt, which have been many.
“My family had relied on me and my income to pay for food, rent, bills and holidays.
“In my culture the children support the parents and relatives overseas and I have not been able to do that, I have let them down.
“They are everything, they’ve kept me positive, made me realise that I’m not a bad person.
“I appreciate life more, I take nothing for granted.
“My intent at no stage was/has been to embarrass the game.“I would never choose to do this journey and I hope no one I love or cared for would go on one remotely similar — it has been the most gut-wrenching, difficult, embarrassing, shitty, shaming, disappointing, emotional, isolating, surreal, regrettable, anxious, all to the point I didn’t wish to live.“Thankfully, I have gotten this far with support and love of others who have believed in me — I seek the support and understanding of the NRL and wish to be given the opportunity to show to them I am a changed man and not the person that they have seen and believe me to be.’’
At the time of his deregistration, NRL CEO Todd Greenberg said it was “very hard to imagine” Simona would ever welcomed back into the game.
However, two clubs are reportedly interested in signing him should he be cleared to return.
Disgraced former Wests Tigers player Tim Simona is reportedly preparing a formal bid to overturn an indefinite NRL ban for one of the biggest betting scandals in the game’s history.
It’s been almost two years since the now 27-year-old was deregistered for betting on NRL matches, also copping an 18-month good behaviour bond for defrauding charities by selling signed merchandise and keeping the money.
The Sunday Telegraph is reporting Simona will meet with the Rugby League Players Association this week to present a dossier and a letter outlining the community work he has undertaken since the ban, including working with charities Camp Quality and Salvation Army.He has also reportedly completed sessions with a gambling psychologist and now works as a personal trainer for special needs children.
“The past two years have been the hardest of my life,’’ Simona wrote.
“I appreciate the invaluable lessons I have learnt, which have been many.
“My family had relied on me and my income to pay for food, rent, bills and holidays.
“In my culture the children support the parents and relatives overseas and I have not been able to do that, I have let them down.
“They are everything, they’ve kept me positive, made me realise that I’m not a bad person.
“I appreciate life more, I take nothing for granted.
“My intent at no stage was/has been to embarrass the game.“I would never choose to do this journey and I hope no one I love or cared for would go on one remotely similar — it has been the most gut-wrenching, difficult, embarrassing, shitty, shaming, disappointing, emotional, isolating, surreal, regrettable, anxious, all to the point I didn’t wish to live.“Thankfully, I have gotten this far with support and love of others who have believed in me — I seek the support and understanding of the NRL and wish to be given the opportunity to show to them I am a changed man and not the person that they have seen and believe me to be.’’
At the time of his deregistration, NRL CEO Todd Greenberg said it was “very hard to imagine” Simona would ever welcomed back into the game.
However, two clubs are reportedly interested in signing him should he be cleared to return.
Just a quick note that the NRL has precedent when it comes to punishment for betting against your own team, which is Ryan Tandy (RIP).
He was also banned for life for betting against his own side. Although the circumstances indicated that he may have altered his performance (which he denied) to facilitate the bet. Something which Simona was cleared of by the NRL.
He was also banned for life for betting against his own side. Although the circumstances indicated that he may have altered his performance (which he denied) to facilitate the bet. Something which Simona was cleared of by the NRL.
JD Tiger
New member
@ said:
He was cleared of altering his performance was he, well that's good for him. So who are the two teams interested? Probably Penrith (as Gus was interested before), and Eels?
goldcoast_tiger
New member
@ said:
Doesn’t matter what’ you are running
Someone could have easily died in one incident
No one was was put in that position by the other player,
I’d rather see neither of them back in the game, but if I had to have one of them, I’d rather have
Simona
For mine the Tigers should be the only club that can bring him back if they wish .
Sick of other clubs having to sack players and them coming back elsewhere.
Anyway probably a moot point as I doubt he will be back. Still I wouldn't be against it given the landscape and the potential that this would have changed his whole thoughts on wearing the jersey.
Sick of other clubs having to sack players and them coming back elsewhere.
Anyway probably a moot point as I doubt he will be back. Still I wouldn't be against it given the landscape and the potential that this would have changed his whole thoughts on wearing the jersey.
diedpretty
Well-known member
@ said:
Yea - what individuals were hurt - the guy withheld money from a charity - no one was beaten, no one was sexually assaulted. I work in the disability sector and i see these people being put down and their rights being destroyed every day by governments, NGOs and those who are supposedly doing the right thing by them. What Simona did was wrong but nothing in comparison to the systemic belittling of vulnerable people that happens in our society every day.
diedpretty
Well-known member
@ said:
Well that ain't gonna happen is it - 1\. We are the goody 2 shoes club. 2\. We are not one of the favoured clubs.
Tim Sheens
Well-known member
@ said:
Happy to be corrected and agree on the vulnerable being preyed upon instead of being protected by various agencies, but pretty sure he affected individuals that forked out their hard earned and received nothing. Couldn't give two spots hoots about anyone gambling on the sport, though hate clubs and NRL taking advertising monies from the bookies.
@ said:
Fair enough. As I said my long winded earlier post at high level to not ban guys like Packer, Lodge and the like looks like gross hypocrisy. Unfortunately it cannot be viewed that way.
Its about protecting the integrity of the result. Packer, Lodge etc whilst their actions in society were appalling and should not (and haven't) been condoned by anyone, what they did had no bearing on the results of games. Simonas actions cast doubt over whether the results were true or not.
If there's no integrity in the result, then all you have is WWE.
If there's no integrity in the result, then all you have is WWE.
Simonas problems resulted from addiction to gambling/ drug taking. It was well documented that he requested advancements in his salary in attempt to manage his addiction.
Gambling on the NRL is promoted without much consideration about the victims of gambling addiction and how it can destroy lives and families.
It seems to be reasonable to offer some level of opportunity for redemption for one of their own who was effected by a society problem that generates money at the expense of those who generally cant afford it.
Gambling on the NRL is promoted without much consideration about the victims of gambling addiction and how it can destroy lives and families.
It seems to be reasonable to offer some level of opportunity for redemption for one of their own who was effected by a society problem that generates money at the expense of those who generally cant afford it.
prattenparkchild
New member
Said it before, we'd be mad not to sponsor his application for reinstatement and offer a contract. Can have behaviour provisions. He deserves another chance and has undertaken remedial actions to address the issues. A good player, versatile and,probably hungry to redeem himself to family and league in general.
Go_You_Good_Things
Well-known member
Gee, this is a tough one.
On the one hand, we have players that have threatened to kill a family and had them cowering in fear of their life, others that stomped heads in, others that drive and speed while DUI, others that bash their female partners.
Then we have a guy that ripped off Joe Public to the tune of a few thousand.
All say they are sorry and have seen the error of their ways.
If we honestly think that the whole" goes against the core of the game" spiel has more validity than the dangers of driving drunk at speed, or the low act of beating your woman . . . well, maybe we should re-think our stance.
And if we think that Penrith's offer of a welfare role isn't just a lubricant for the NRL, for when they want a player's contract in a year or 2's time . . . . well, we are dreaming once again !
On the one hand, we have players that have threatened to kill a family and had them cowering in fear of their life, others that stomped heads in, others that drive and speed while DUI, others that bash their female partners.
Then we have a guy that ripped off Joe Public to the tune of a few thousand.
All say they are sorry and have seen the error of their ways.
If we honestly think that the whole" goes against the core of the game" spiel has more validity than the dangers of driving drunk at speed, or the low act of beating your woman . . . well, maybe we should re-think our stance.
And if we think that Penrith's offer of a welfare role isn't just a lubricant for the NRL, for when they want a player's contract in a year or 2's time . . . . well, we are dreaming once again !
Go_You_Good_Things
Well-known member
@ said:
Its all about protecting the integrity of society. While what Simona did wasn't ideal, it might have had a slight effect on a games result. MIGHT.
What Lodge, Musgrove, GI, MCK, etc, etc did might not have affected something as important as a game's result, it did however endanger lives and mentally scar people for life.
If I had the choice between my daughter going out with a bloke that put a few bets on a game, or a bloke that had a family shitting itself in fear of their life after he threatened to kill them . . . . well, grab me a beer, I'm watching the wrestling.
@ said:
Bingo! It's the integrity of the result. He was banned for betting money against his team/himself. I remember his kick infield against the warriors early in the tackle count in one of the games he bet on, it was brain less. He didn't txt his ex about it so it looks innocent but I still think no one is that dumb…if he plays again call it wwfnrl.
@ said:
But society did not think it was bad enough to lock them up/punish them hard. The problem here is the law or how it is applied. The nrls job is to protect the integrity of the game. Simona brakes that, the other issues have to be dealt by the courts/law. If the law let's them off, how can/why should the nrl punish them.
GNR4LIFE
Well-known member
There are much better players out there, who have not been out of the game for 2 years, if we want a centre that much.
