Penalty plunge probe is still on

[Bakes]

So charge them with "not winning" any money. lol
Seriously, I think they have wasted enough time on this crap

 

[r0ma]

crap? rubbish?

we have players throwing games in an attempt to profit thousands of $ (doesn't matter that they made zero in this instance - they just screwed up - the game has still been compromised)... this stuff is big. with these guys now been outted I can gaurentee they will start snitching on each other. someone will go down for this. I only wonder how many other times this has happened?

 

[holbi]

Yeah, I totally agree with r0ma, the central figure here allegedly appears to be the players manager, I always believe that if it smells like pp, feels and looks like poo then it must be poo. Once betting is allowed on ANYTHING, you will eventually have corruption, it's inevitable. Get rid of anybody remotely tainted or associtated with this investigation now. Don't care how good the player or manager is, the next game they throw may be the grand final, once compromised they will always be a target to repeat the offence. The NRL hierachy must take a hard line on this and set an example now.

 

[waveraider]

Its actually Strike Force, not task force.

lol they must be running out of names for operations. You have to love the task force name for this being called task Force "Suburb". wtf?

So much taxpayer money going down the toilet on this fiasco which will amount to nada. God love em. Well i know for sure they didnt waste any of our money researching a name for the taskforce.

 

[waveraider]

Yeah I agree I hope the Police get a result out of this and those involved, Bulldogs or not are removed from the game. The NRL needs to be strong on all involved.

Yeah, I totally agree with r0ma, the central figure here allegedly appears to be the players manager, I always believe that if it smells like $hit, feels and looks like $hit then it must be $hit. Once betting is allowed on ANYTHING, you will eventually have corruption, it's inevitable. Get rid of anybody remotely tainted or associtated with this investigation now. Don't care how good the player or manager is, the next game they throw may be the grand final, once compromised they will always be a target to repeat the offence. The NRL hierachy must take a hard line on this and set an example now.

 

[Chris Harding]

Is this how managers get extra money for their players outside the cap?

 

[Shermy]

That wouldn't be too far off the mark Chris. I have heard rumours of that happening before. I wouldn't put it past some people either.

 

[Dognacious]

Its actually Strike Force, not task force.

That isnt the important part of my post, the word "Suburb" is. I mean wtf does it mean?

 

[Big Nick]

Eels tell young star Brad Murray to assist police

Eels tell young star Brad Murray to assist police

Melissa Woods
From: The Daily Telegraph
December 04, 2010 12:00AM

PARRAMATTA will wait until an investigation into the controversial Bulldogs-Cowboys match is complete before considering any action, after young halfback Brad Murray was drawn into the scandal.

The Eels yesterday confirmed Murray, 20, was the man shown placing a bet on the match in CCTV footage released by police.

A series of big bets were made on the Cowboys opening the scoring with a penalty goal, according to police, who made no suggestion Murray was involved in criminal activity but thought he may be able to help their investigation.

Eels chief executive Paul Osborne has encouraged Murray, who last year captained the Roosters' under-20 Toyota Cup side before joining the Eels, to assist the police.

"We'll let the police finish their work first and then have a look into what action we may take, if any," Osborne said.

 

[Big Nick]

Police keen to speak to young Eels halfback as investigation continues

Greg Prichard
December 3, 2010
SMH


POLICE investigating suspicious betting activity on an NRL match late last season are waiting for Brad Murray to contact them this morning. The Parramatta halfback was identified as the man shown in CCTV footage placing a bet on the option that was the subject of a highly unusual plunge by punters.

If the 20-year-old does not contact police, they will contact him. Police have not made any suggestion Murray has been involved in any criminal activity, but they believe he could possibly assist them with their investigation into what they suspect was an attempted fraud.


Murray, who has switched to the Eels for next season after playing for Sydney Roosters in the Toyota Cup competition, does not have to talk to the police if he doesn't wish to, and it is possible he will seek legal advice before making a decision.

The Herald understands police yesterday forwarded contact telephone numbers to the NRL for Murray to use if he chose to talk to them.

The development regarding Murray occurred after police early yesterday circulated to the media CCTV footage and photographs of a man placing a bet at a TAB outlet inside a Flemington hotel about 1pm on Thursday, August 19. The man was subsequently identified as Murray.

The game in question was played between North Queensland and Canterbury in Townsville on Saturday, August 21. The first scoring play is generally regarded as a novelty option by punters, and usually attracts little interest, but on this occasion there was a big plunge on a Cowboys penalty goal.

North Queensland were in position to kick an easy penalty goal to open the scoring after Bulldogs prop Ryan Tandy was penalised in the second minute of the game, but chose to take a quick tap instead and scored first through a try.

Tandy, who is managed by Sam Ayoub, who also manages Murray, has vehemently denied any wrongdoing. Tandy and Ayoub have denied any involvement. The Herald reported in October that Ayoub, one of the game's leading player agents, had placed a bet on a Cowboys penalty goal, which in itself is obviously not an illegal act.

Detective Superintendent Arthur Katsogiannis, speaking on behalf of detectives from the State Crime Command's Racing and Casino Investigation Unit, who are investigating the matter, yesterday confirmed to the Herald that the bet Murray placed was on a Cowboys penalty goal.

Neither Murray nor Ayoub returned the Herald's phone calls yesterday.

Originally, the NRL followed up on its own suspicions regarding the game by employing Racing NSW chief steward Ray Murrihy to collect information regarding the size of bets and the identities of punters who placed them. The information was then shown to police, who immediately became interested.

Katsogiannis yesterday told the Herald: ''We're pleased that the person in the CCTV footage has been identified, and we will be making contact with that person, and hope he is in a position to assist us with our investigation.

''The inquiry is ongoing. We're pursuing a number of avenues, and have developed a couple of strategies. We're optimistic we'll be able to achieve a positive outcome, that being getting to the truth.''

At the very least, Murray would be in trouble with the league for placing a bet on a league game, as under league rules players and officials are not allowed to bet on games.

Asked for his reaction to Murray having been identified as the man in the footage, NRL chief executive David Gallop said: ''All I can say is it's a police matter, and as such it's difficult to make any comment. We're leaving it to the police at this stage, but it goes without saying that players are prohibited from betting on football, and any player would face some sort of penalty from the league for that.''

Eels chief executive Paul Osborne said he had spoken to Murray, adding: ''I just told Brad he needs to co-operate with the police fully, which the club will do as well, if required.''

 

[Bakes]

This coming from Osbourne the shop lifter

 

[Big Nick]

Players will fight to clear their names

By YONI BASHAN
From: The Sunday Telegraph
December 05, 2010 12:00AM


They'll fight ... Player agent Sam Ayoub. Source: The Sunday Telegraph

THE manager of two rugby league players involved in the NRL betting scandal yesterday broke his silence, claiming his clients will fight to clear their names.

Parramatta halfback Brad Murray and Bulldogs prop Ryan Tandy, who are both managed by NRL player agent Sam Ayoub, have been implicated in an alleged sting that would have landed punters $250,000.

Ayoub spoke to The Sunday Telegraph at his Strathfield home yesterday, where he said Murray, 20, and Tandy, 29, would be exonerated.

Police on Thursday issued a CCTV image of a man at a betting window in western Sydney - now identified as Murray - saying he was central to their inquiries.

There is an on-going investigation into a massive NRL betting plunge on the North Queensland Cowboys match against Canterbury in Townsville on August 21.

Suspicions were raised after heavy betting on the first score in the match being a North Queensland penalty goal.


Police are pursuing another "person of interest", who was seen entering five different TAB locations wearing different clothes, each time placing bets on the match. No charges have been laid.

A police source yesterday confirmed that Murray had been contacted by police and that officers attached to Strike Force Suburb were waiting for him to present for an interview.

There is no suggestion Murray has done anything illegal and it is understood he has agreed to meet police during the week.

Parramatta chief executive Paul Osborne said he had spoken to Murray on Thursday and encouraged him to co-operate with police.

Mr Ayoub defended Murray, saying the matter was being marred by speculation.

Mr Ayoub is adamant Murray will be cleared, saying he has done nothing wrong.

"Absolutely, absolutely, and that will come out in due course," he said.

Mr Ayoub said Murray had been in contact with police.

"When the truth comes out, everyone will find out it's a storm in a tea cup," he said.

Murray, who also lives at the address, was not at home yesterday. "He's definitely not here," Mr Ayoub said.

When The Sunday Telegraph arrived, a crisis meeting was taking place inside Mr Ayoub's home, where strategies were being fleshed out to address the matter.

"I've got people here, we're sorting some things out for people," he said.

"We are co-operating (with police) and doing everything that needs to be done. If anybody wants to make other assumptions they can, but they'd be well off the mark."

Asked why Murray had not presented to police, Mr Ayoub said: "Who said he hasn't gone for an interview?"

The police investigation, run by the Casino and Racing Investigation Unit, is centred around a number of four-figure bets that were placed on a Cowboys penalty goal as first points of the game.

The Cowboys spurned an opportunity to kick for goal, causing the betting plunge to fail.

Tandy, who has denied any wrongdoing, was involved in the play that saw the Cowboys awarded the now controversial penalty.

Murray was not playing in the match at the time, but under NRL rules, players are not allowed to bet on games.

 

[MAD DOG]

ive placed bets before on penalty goal as first points scored, do i need to be interviewed too? or am i just a hopeless punter (loser) ?

 

[chris_e_fresh]

^^^ i bet you werent going to win $250k

 

[Paint.]

^^^ i bet you werent going to win $250k

I also bet that, in the games that he bet on, the team who he bet on got a turnover in the first hitup as well as a penalty right away.

 

[Big Nick]

Murray yet to agree to meet police
Greg Prichard SMH
December 14, 2010

PARRAMATTA halfback Brad Murray is yet to meet with police for an interview, more than a week after being identified as the person shown in CCTV footage placing a bet on the controversial game between North Queensland and Canterbury late last season.

The Herald has learnt that police from the Racing and Casino Investigation Unit have been negotiating with Murray's solicitor to try to arrange a meeting with the player, but have so far been unsuccessful .

There has been no suggestion by police that Murray has been involved in any criminal activity, and he has the option of not talking to them, but they believe he could help with their investigation into what they suspect was an attempted fraud.

Police are looking into suspicious betting activity on the game, played on August 21 in Townsville. The first scoring play is normally treated as a novelty betting option by punters, but on this occasion there was a highly unusual plunge on a Cowboys penalty goal to open the scoring.

There was an opportunity for the plunge to come off when Bulldogs prop Ryan Tandy was penalised near the posts in the second minute of the game, but the Cowboys elected to take a quick tap instead and opened the scoring through a try. Tandy and Murray are both managed by Sam Ayoub, and Tandy and Ayoub have denied any wrongdoing. Neither Murray nor Ayoub returned the Herald's phone calls yesterday.

On Thursday, December 2, police circulated CCTV footage and photographs to the media of Murray placing a bet on a Cowboys penalty goal at a TAB outlet inside a Flemington hotel, two days before the game was played. Murray, who played for Sydney Roosters in the Toyota Cup competition last season and has since joined the Eels, was identified the same day.

Parramatta have encouraged Murray to make himself available to for interview. He was excused from training last week, after being identified as the person in the footage, but was due back this week.

The Herald understands police regard the next few weeks of their investigation as crucial. They have received important information from some people who have been interviewed, and are seeking to add to that through further interviews.

 

[Big Nick]

Young Eel in crosshairs of NRL after bet
Chris Barrett SMH
January 27, 2011

THE NRL will move to censure Parramatta halfback Brad Murray for placing a bet on a game, with the penalty of deregistration not being ruled out for what is considered by the game's administrators a serious offence.

The 20-year-old, who has joined the Eels from the Roosters, was shown on CCTV footage last August at a Flemington hotel to have placed a wager at a TAB counter on the exotic option of North Queensland scoring first with a penalty goal in their match against Canterbury two days later.

A major plunge on the usually novelty option, first reported by the Herald, subsequently became the focus of a brief investigation by Racing NSW chief steward Ray Murrihy before the matter was forwarded to police. Punters stood to win more than $250,000.


There is no suggestion Murray was in any way involved in criminal activity in placing the bet. However, the NRL's regulations prohibit players from betting on competition matches, and regardless of the outcome of the police and NSW Crime Commission inquiries, he will face action from the central body.

That process will likely begin by next month, with sources saying the investigation by the State Crime Command's Racing and Casino Investigation Unit will conclude shortly. More than 80 people have been interviewed. Murray's penalty will depend largely on the size of the bet he placed.

The NRL, having left the digging into betting on the Cowboys-Bulldogs game with police since Murrihy's initial search of bets lodged, have not yet been told how much money he placed on the option that afternoon. But when they are informed of the details they are expected to act quickly. ''Anything that the police come up with will be looked at closely,'' NRL official John Brady said. ''There are a range of penalties that cover everything from deregistration to a fine. It has to fit what the offence is. They go across all codes of conduct and contractual issues.''

The Herald spoke briefly with Murray last week but he declined to comment. It is understood he was one of the key individuals summoned to assist the NSW Crime Commission, the coercive powers of which were utilised to further the hunt for evidence into betting on the Cowboys-Bulldogs game. Murray is being represented by solicitor Danny Eid, who is also acting for Murray's agent, Sam Ayoub, and Bulldogs front-rower Ryan Tandy, another Ayoub client. Eid has not returned the Herald's calls, nor have Ayoub or Tandy. Tandy and Ayoub have denied any involvement in the plunge on the game. It was reported last October that Ayoub also placed a bet on a Cowboys penalty goal, although that is not illegal.

The alleged sting was ultimately unsuccessful after the Cowboys declined a chance to kick an easy goal after two minutes, and instead scored a try. Tandy, who was penalised in front of the posts for laying on Cowboys half Grant Rovelli, strongly denied giving it away intentionally in an interview with the Herald published on August 28.

They should rename this The Neverending Story.

 

[Mash]

They should rename this The Neverending Story.

Brad Murray would be the child-like empress. And Tandy would be Bastian.
Not sure who Ayoub is?

 

[Big Nick]

Brad Murray would be the child-like empress. And Tandy would be Bastian.
Not sure who Ayoub is?

lol...good call.