Funny how they are leaving the announcement until after the NRL grand final!

Personally i'd happily take the scandal for Thurston.

Bird wasn't banned from playing in the NRL. Cronulla suspended him and eventually agreed to his release on the understanding he wouldn't sign for another NRL club.

Ah right i wasn't aware of that. Maybe an NRL ban does mean SL ban then? I guess we'll find out on Monday.

Life bans for 6 players mentioned, including JT and Willie Mason. HKR will bit's bit peed off!

Adam Blair too, what a traversty it would be to loose him from the game too!

the RFL Operational Rules are suitably vague in this area:

The Board on behalf of the RFL shall be entitled to refuse registration of a Player or refuse to accept a Contract, Contract renewal, variation or extension in any of the following circumstances:
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(b) the Board reasonably believes that to accept the registration or contract may bring the Game into disrepute or may adversely affect the integrity of any competition, or
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(f) the Board reasonably believes that the Player is under a relevant suspension or ban imposed by the RFL or another governing body of any sport in any part of the world.


So basically the RFL can choose to accept the ban or not.

No change their then

Just as an aside, does this go down as a "chief exclusive" considering I broke the news hours before the media?

They didn't count in the 80's.

At Leeds we were joined by Cliff Lyons on a short term contract whilst he was suspended down under.

Who was the bloke at Wakefield recently - Leo-Latu. Didn't he receive an NRL ban or is de-registering different??

If he's guilty of match fixing, then it's not a travesty. He'll have got his just rewards.

Interesting stuff. Regarding bans, I think it's up the RFL to make a decision whether or not to register a player. There aren't any rules in place regarding this, as far as I know.

I suspect, however, that they would be under pressure from the NRL not to allow these players into Super League, and of course they will have to weigh up whether the potential coup of 6 top class players for the British game would be worth the negative press that would doubtless be attracted.

Negative press where exactly? RL gets next to no press over here so I'm assuming you mean down under?

All publicity is good publicity! Saints need to get onto thurstons agent now and casually mention how we treat players involved in betting scandals

No, here. RL gets next to no press until it, or somebody representing it, does something wrong. Given that this is a betting scandal, there is a pretty good example I could point you to.

Saints has already had one betting scandal, i'm sure we can cope with another

Can I quote you on that?

I hope we don't go anywhere near match fixers, if found guilty they should be banned from the game for good

exactly - every mistake would be under scrutiny, it wouldnt be worth the hassle of having them in the team.

You were happy to keep sean long though?

Sean Long wasn't involved in match fixing, betting on a game you aren't playing in maybe distasteful, but it isn't match fixing.

The more serious offence was committed by Gleeson because he actually played in the match and left himself open to such accusations.

Its not match fixing as such though is it? isn't it more like spot betting (like the cricketers?)


Would still like to see Thurston in the vee

I agree, i don't think its as serious as to be suggested. I'm not condoning it either. I stand with the same viewpoint as you, Thurston in a red vee would be fantastic. Unfortunately im not sure it will happen.

Sell leon to Bradford for £100k or the burgess twins and get thurston for free as his replacement! Other teams will just not bother turning up! Simples

I really wouldn't mind seeing the Burgess twins in the vee too! They're huge.