A PLAYER agent's possible involvement in the betting scandal surrounding an NRL match between Canterbury and North Queensland is being looked into by police.
Officers of the Casino and Racing Investigation Unit yesterday began sifting through a mountain of information handed to them by Racing NSW chief steward Ray Murrihy, allegedly linking the player agent to a number of bets placed at a hotel TAB outlet in Sydney.
The police will investigate whether there is a link between the agent and NRL players, who are forbidden to bet on games, and a massive multi-state and territory betting plunge on a penalty goal as first score in the round 24 match between the Bulldogs and Cowboys at Dairy Farmers Stadium two weeks ago. The plunge was unsuccessful.
A TAB Sportsbet staffer alerted the NRL when the price on a Cowboys first-score penalty tumbled from $13 to $7 before betting was suspended.
Bulldogs prop Ryan Tandy was penalised 10m from his own goal line for holding down the Cowboys' Grant Rovelli in the opening two minutes, giving North Queensland an opportunity to kick a penalty.
But they opted for a tap and duly scored a try which put paid to the nationwide plunge.
Tandy has repeatedly denied any involvement in the scandal.
"It's not only the total amount of money bet, but the weight of bets placed on this particular betting option that is out of proportion historically," Murrihy told The Australian yesterday.
"It was certainly of enough concern to recommend to the NRL that the matter be referred to the NSW Police for a full and thorough investigation.
"A clear pattern emerges in the figures I saw from the various state tote operators and Betfair Australia. I'm expecting a similar pattern to emerge when I look at the outstanding betting figures still to come from the remaining online interstate betting operators."
NRL chief executive David Gallop welcomed the police investigation.
"Clearly, this is a matter that requires the most thorough investigation possible and we believe it is in everyone's interests for the police to be involved," Gallop said.
"We have informally shared with them the information that has been compiled to date and will continue to work with them to assist with any investigation that may result.
"At this stage, the NRL has not made any accusations against any individuals."
Meanwhile, the creation of an independent commission to run rugby league will take another major forward step after a meeting in Sydney today.
The last hurdle to establishing the independent commission was cleared yesterday following a secret caucus meeting between key Queensland rugby league figures Bruce Hartcher, Terry Mackenroth and prominent NRL club chairmen David Trodden (Wests Tigers), Nick Pappas (South Sydney) and Scott Penn (Manly).
Brisbane Broncos chairman Darryl Somerville sat in on the meeting via a teleconference call.
They met as a caucus clearing any last hurdle before regrouping at NSW Leagues Club today to push for a target date of November 1 for the ARL and News Limited (publisher of The Australian) to hand over the ownership of the game.
Gallop confirmed yesterday that he had not been invited to the meeting.
"I'm not going to deny our meeting didn't take place," a key figure who was at the CBD meeting and who asked not to be named, said.
"What came out of the discussions was much momentum for the commission to be finally formed.
"There are just one or two minor issues that need to be sorted out, a matter of small detail, and the commission should be up and running."
A truce has been called following several months of bickering by delegates split along state lines.
