The National Rugby League (NRL) will take into consideration a possible liberalisation of gambling rules under which a number of rugby league superstars are currently unable to hold jobs at local NRL clubs.
Now, NRL executives shared they were willing to review the guidelines that have prevented Laurie Daley from starting to work at Manly and endanger Willie Mason’s role at the Canterbury Bulldogs. They have noted that popular figures such as Daley and Mason could be among the most-desired additions as mentors at a National Rugby League club, and their integrity should not be considered questionable.
Robbie Farah, a legend of the West Tigers, has also been forced to end his relationship with a sports betting operator because he is currently occupying an assistant coach job at the club under the lead of Tim Sheens.
Willie Mason has been having a different type of relationship with the TAB than Daley and Farah, who are supposed to provide betting tips. Unlike the two of them, he has a popular podcast that is simply sponsored by the Australian sportsbook. He does not offer betting tips and he does not provide any inside information from the Canterbury Bulldogs who have employed him pathways and rely on him to sometimes help out with the National Rugby League side. As part of his ties with the club, he is expected to have to make certain minor concessions.
NRL Integrity Unit Checking NRL Superstars’ Relationships with Australian Sportsbooks
For the time being, the sport generates approximately AU$50 million on an annual basis from licence fees and gambling sponsorship agreements from at least 49 sports betting companies that operate across Australia.
The relationship between gambling and sports has been a controversial issue in the National Rugby League since Matt Tripp, the chairman of Melbourne Storm, is also currently the boss of one of the largest bookmakers in the country, Betr. Although Mr Tripp does not provide sports betting tips, he is still considered one of the bigger players in the industry.
As far as Willie Mason’s case is concerned, an official decision is set to be made by the end of the week. His job description has been provided by Aaron Warburton, the boss of the Canterbury Bulldogs, to the competent integrity unit as part of the ongoing investigations into Mr Mason’s role in the National Rugby League and whether his ties to gambling could be affecting his integrity.
Lately, the integrity unit of the NRL has demonstrated consistency in its rulings in terms of former rugby superstars’ association with gambling and sport at the same time.
The National Rugby League has addressed the Canterbury Bulldogs, asking the club to provide an explanation over the paid relationship of Willie Mason with the TAB while he serves as a full-time assistant coach. Now, his association with the gambling industry will be taken into consideration by the NRL integrity unit, which has previously prevented Laurie Daley from joining Manly due to his ties with the TAB’s radio network. Another popular former professional rugby league player, Robbie Farah, was also stopped from working for an Australian bookmaker due to the fact he worked as an assistant coach for the Wests Tigers.
- Author
Daniel Williams
