Please let's not kid ourselves. This is absolutely awful for the credibility of the British game with the attitude some of the RL players have. How can we attract credible sponsors and bumper TV deals when stories like this are out there?

The RFL have FAILED to protect the credibility of the game when they didn't hand out life bans to Sean Long and Martin Gleeson. The RFL have to be VERY heavy-handed with this. This lad should be given a life ban from the game. They should conduct a thorough investigation and make a statement on the matter. To set an example and send a warning to anyone in the game who fancies a bet on their own team. We need to protect the credibility of the game. If players are betting on their teams to lose in the Super League, Championship 1 or 2 then fans are going to wonder what's the point in seeing something that isn't a contest? It shouldn't matter what competition you play in, how big a name you are or how old you are. You threaten the integrity of the game with something like this and you're banned from playing the game for life. No excuses, no exceptions.

.... and no winning bonus offered. !

Agreed!! remember though there's higher profile sports with similar/bigger problems than us in RL, its not good no, but lets not over exaggerate. Rugby League is in good shape in general

Its in better shape than Celtic eh mate? Champions again ole ole!!

Well there you have it. As we're negotiating a new TV deal (presumably with Sky) one of his pi$$ poor excuses for a newspaper runs a story which, when blown out of proportion as much as it has been in that article, can be used to drive down the money his other company (Sky) would have to pay us. Dave Whelan is nothing compared to this to$$er.