Are you sure?

From memory, he was not placing large bets on specific single games but putting on fixed odds handicap coupons where he needed 3 or 4 results to go his way to win anything.

Also...
"The player was advised of the hearing date but failed to attend. He was found to be in breach of rule D10 (c) which prohibits anybody covered by the operational rules of the game from betting on the outcome of Rugby League fixtures.

"An investigation was carried out after complaints were received regarding the involvement of a Workington Town player in betting activity concerning the outcome of a rugby league game in which the Workington Town club was involved."'"

rl[sizeA Statement from Shaun[/sizerl

Source: Dons Offical Website.

The difference being one did not play in any of the games he placed bets on and the other did. The loyalty of Donny fans to your player is commendable, but its straying into the boundaries of condoning his actions.

we are necessarily condoning what saun did but he stuck with us when most other players decamped and for that loyalty we as supporters want to thank him and remain loyal to him,we will forgive players most things so long as they give 100% as leafy always did,thanks saun,

It's not condoning Shaun Leaf's actions it's asking for a bit of consistency from the RFL. Was the Worky player hard done to also when taking into consideration the bans that Long and Gleeson received bearing in mind that their profiles as SLE players are/were a million times what Leaf's and the Worky players are? A 12 month ban would have been more than ample. Did the Worky player get a reduction to seven months even though he failed to appear at his own hearing?

I don't think anyone is condoning what Shaun has done but the vast majority of us believe that 18 months is harsh. However, if that is the ban handed down by the RFL then we'll probably all have to accept it and move on.

What you seem to be misconstruing as 'condoning his actions' is us showing some compassion and loyalty to a player who has stuck with our Club during some very hard times (including Administration) when there were offers which would have allowed him to move on.

[sizeWe all make mistakes.[/size In terms of Shaun's RL career this is a big one. But for us supporters, it will not be allowed to wipe out all the positive stuff which Shaun has done during his time with the Dons.

[sizeShaun has over the years earned our loyalty ... now would not be the time to repay that by turning our backs on him.[/size

A great statement from Shaun on the Dons' website.

We all know he did wrong; we perhaps feel the punishment doesn't fit the crime, but we're not condoning what he did.

Thanks for sticking by the club in the past Shaun. The fans will stick by you, and we'll look forward to seeing you in a Dons' shirt in the future.

is there no appeals procedure,if yes give it a go shaun

I agree od. It appears the Worky player had his ban reduced by almost 50%. if Shaun Leaf can get six months knocked off then it would be a small victory. If you don't ask you don't get.

I'm suprised no-one has mentioned that on the same day he bet on Wigan v Barrow....this for me (instead of being a further crime as the panel would have you believe) just makes as stronger case for the fact that despite being in the wrong..perhaps Shawn was just a bit dumb and was not thinking straight.

just to eleberate slightly and put a different spin on things, he bet on 3 challenge cup games that weekend....were they all single bets? or was in an acca? if it were the latter Leaf may have just thrown it in....and I can only assume it was as the other 2 games were brought into the conclusions of the case. For me that is just naive (bet the whole bet actually came in)...and although wrong and against the rules, nowhere near as cynical as Gleeson and Long who had inside information about Saints playing a weak side and cheating the bookies...Leaf a) didnt cheat in a game...b) didn't cheat the bookies...c) yes broke the law...but his punishment doenst fit

www.thestar.co.uk/sport/rugby-le ... _1_3689841

www.thestar.co.uk/sport/rugby-le ... _1_3689841

No way am I condoning what Shaun has done . The sentance is the issue for me .

Barrow chairman Des Johnson fined £2000 for betting on RL matches in 2009 & allegedly still doing it .