Tim Simona

Simona hits Super League roadblock

Former Wests Tigers coach Tim Sheens, who handed Simona his NRL debut in 2011, has been making enquiries about his availability and is willing to hand him a career lifeline at Hull KR next season.

Toronto coach Paul Rowley, who is also willing to give Simona another chance after being banned by the NRL for betting against his own team, has hit out at the Rugby Football League rules that prohibit Simona from playing for the Wolfpack next year.

Tim Simona to plead guilty to fraud

Simona's lawyer on Tuesday indicated the 25-year-old planned to plead guilty to fraud over the sale of signed jerseys which were supposedly auctioned for the charity.

The New Zealand-born centre has been charged with dishonestly obtaining A$6600 (NZ$7100) from the auction of Tigers club jerseys, boots and training items, according to documents before Campbelltown Local Court.

Police allege there were at least 12 sales over three years with each netting A$550 (NZ$600) on average.

NZ-born Tim Simona deregistered by NRL over betting

The Wests Tigers centre also lied when interviewed by the NRL's integrity unit, bet on rugby league matches and didn't pass on jersey auction proceeds to charities.

"Based on the evidence we have identified it is very hard to imagine that Tim Simona will be registered with the NRL at any time in the future," NRL chief executive Todd Greenberg said in a statement on Friday.

The NRL has not released specific details of Simona's indiscretions.

But text messages sent by the 25-year-old indicated he knew his behaviour was in breach of the rules, Greenberg said.

Has rugby league’s relationship with gambling begun to go too far?

But what do we call the suits in charge who have encouraged this mad fixation on betting that now brings millions of dollars into the sport every year?

Clever?

Innocent?

Responsible?

Hold that thought.

As we’ve all heard by now, young Wests Tigers centre Tim Simona was stood down amid the latest NRL betting investigation.

The claims are that 25-year-old allegedly made a string of small bets on several games over a series of months.