TWO of Sydney’s biggest criminal kingpins have infiltrated the National Rugby League, supplying some of the code’s stars with prostitutes, cocaine and alcohol in exchange for inside information to bet on matches.
Officers from Strike Force Nuralda, set up to investigate alleged match fixing in several NRL matches in the 2015 and 2016 seasons, have handed down their findings.
Police said that while they found no evidence that the games were rigged, their inquiries uncovered a number of irregular bets made by individuals, including several players and former players.
NSW Police have refused to name any of the players or the alleged criminals but there are now two investigations into money laundering and drug supply by individuals uncovered in the course of the match-fixing allegations. Strike Force officers were told crime figures encouraged footballers to drink, gamble and take drugs with the aim of extracting inside information from them prior to matches.
TWO of Sydney’s biggest crime figures — known for drug trafficking and money laundering — have been linked to a number of first grade rugby league players following NSW Police’s probe into NRL match fixing allegations. The investigation also found crime figures supplied players with prostitutes and cocaine and encouraged them to gamble to get “inside” information for betting on NRL games, but failed to uncover any evidence of match fixing relating to three matches in 2015 and one in 2016. Police said while they found no evidence that the games were rigged, they did detect a number of irregular bets made by individuals. That included $100,000 placed by people acting for a major gambling identity. Others, including players and former players, were observed making much larger bets than their normal punts. Some regular $50 punters were recorded betting $10,000 and $15,000 at a time.
Strike Force Nuralda — which was set up after police were contacted by the NRL and betting agencies to look into the four matches, which included Manly’s games against South Sydney in June, 2015, and Parramatta in August, 2015 — identified 13 persons of interest.
“While investigators were provided information and noted suspicious betting behaviour, no one has been or will be prosecuted under Strike Force Nuralda,’’ police said.
Senior police this week warned the NRL while no one will be charged there are clubs and players they believe are vulnerable to exploitation by criminal influences. Two senior officers from the Organised Crime Squad will meet with every NRL club CEO in the coming months to discuss strategies clubs can deploy to decrease the risk to their players.
The Daily Telegraph revealed the Organised Crime Squad were looking into match fixing allegations in the NRL in June, 2016, prompting Manly to hire former NSW chief steward Ray Murrihy to conduct a sweeping analysis of their own integrity measures. The Sea Eagles have strenuously denied any wrongdoing.
During Strike Force Nuralda’s 24-month probe police interviewed more than 160 people, including current and past players, referees, club officials and professional punters. They also executed 59 search warrants gaining access to bank accounts, TAB accounts and phone data.
Police had more than 46,000 pages of financial statements and 1000 pages of phone data to analyse.
A number of players were also interrogated in secret hearings by the NSW Crime Commission where refusing to answer would result in jail.
Investigators were told some players on massive con-
tracts were now broke because of their gambling habits. They also heard crime figures would encourage players to drink, gamble and take drugs with the ultimate aim of getting inside information on players before games.
“While detectives have not preferred criminal charges relating to these issues, their investigation highlighted activities and practices that are deemed as highrisk for the NRL,” a police statement released today will say.
Police have refused to name any of the players or alleged criminals but there are now two investigations into money laundering and drug supply by individuals uncovered in the course of the match-fixing allegations.
Neither is directly linked to the NRL, but a number of players are known to associate with the pair. “During the course of the investigation, detectives uncovered potential criminal offences, including drug supply and money laundering, which do not relate to the NRL,’’ police said. “These matters have been referred to other investigators.’’
An independent referee was also employed to review the matches in question and also other games where there were indications of betting irregularities.
“The investigation also examined the practice of ‘point shaving’ — where strong teams, or significant players within teams, who are expected to win by big margins, pull back to only win by small margins,’’ police said. “Investigators did not uncover evidence of this practice under Strike Force Nuralda.”
NRL CEO Todd Greenberg said the review should give all fans confidence in the integrity of rugby league matches: “It is reassuring to know that, after the most exhaustive police investigation, there is no evidence of match fixing in the NRL.” He said the NRL would work with police on recommendations they have put forward to ensure organised crime does not infiltrate the NRL.
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