If this idiot really described it as the blackest day in rugby league he should be thoroughly ashamed of himself. The blackest day in recent rugby league history is surely the Terry Newton suicide. It just shows that some journalists are low-lifes who will do anything for a story.

Geoff was the NOTW RL correspondant for ages, although I'm not sure for how long. Anyway, at the 2008 Grand Final, after Daniel Anderson's press conference, Geoff turned around to me and asked me what a 40/20 was. I was absolutely speechless! He really doesn't know much about the game and that's putting it mildly.

Meh, all publicity is good publicity

Well I hope his career descends into a downward spiral then. There are too many people in the world who have so much knowledge and talent that can't get the jobs they want because of useless idiots like this guy.

You must have learned by now that the only time we get coverage nationally is when something goes wrong, if GB had have beaten Aus in the ashes decider at Wembley in front of 70,000 on the same day, the betting story would take precedence.

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.

Possibly the biggest overreaction ever on this board and that's saying something.

All we know do far is that the Doncaster player bet that his team would lose in a game that he wasn't playing in versus a team 2 divisions higher.

Does that really constitute a life ban? Really? When compared with such things like drug cheats, salary cap breaches by clubs and off-field player issues like the Pryce & Reardon situation I'd say the kind of bet this lad did isn't as serious as those issues, isn't as serious as the Gleeson & Long scandal and shouldn't be exaggerated simply because the Sun journalist is a pillock.

If it's later proved he has tried to throw games then that is a separate matter that might well require a lifetime ban, but for the betting incident I would have thought a year ban would be appropriate.



I assume you think that Gareth Hock, Terry Newton & Ryan Hudson should have been banned for life?

Agree with Gleeson and Long case, but not this guy. The circumstances of the Siants Bradford game were alot different, in that they knew the teams would be weakened.



Although he should be banned, i dont think it should be for life in this case.

The RFL FAILED to put off players betting against their own clubs with their lackluster punishments for Martin Gleeson and Sean Long whose actions were utterly disgraceful. We've since had ex-Oldham assistant coach who only received a 12-month ban for betting against his own club. We've now had a captain, club stalwart, the very fulcrum of the Doncaster RL side bet against his own team to lose whilst also slagging off his team mates with hints that other players in the sport do it and even to go as far as claiming match officials are also involved. Where does this end? Can you not see how damaging this is for the credibility of the competition? Look at the Rovers forum - they're fans are absolutely devastated. What does this say for the Championship One competition? What does this say to potential sponsors of RL? How does the RFL stand a chance in gaining a bumper TV deal when the integrity of the sport is questioned throughout the national press? So you think a 12-month ban and a slap on the wrist is good enough? Would you be happy to see this bloke play RL again?



The RFL need to draw a line - plain and simple. If you put the integrity of the game into doubt then you should be banned from the game for life. Simple as that.



Gareth Hock was stupid. He took cocaine. He was not the captain of his team willing them to lose by a certain amount in a challenge cup game to win a bet. He did not cheat. He was just idiotic.



Terry Newton took performance enhancing drugs. This also questions the integrity of the game. He cheated. His two-year ban was effectively like a life ban. I would however like to see anyone who takes such drugs given a life ban also - so in that respect, yes, I do think he should have received a life ban. There's absolutely no place for it in our game.



It's the RFL's job to protect the credibility of the game. Anyone who questions that breaks the rules and should be given a severe ban and/or a whopping fine.

What would you do as an alternative and do you think it would act as a good enough deterrent for any future potential offenders?



If you gamble on getting caught, you gamble on your career - wouldn't happen again then.

Ah, I see so Wigan players who break the rules shouldn't be given a lifetime ban but players at other clubs should.



Hock not only broke RFL and international doping rules he also broke the law, surely discrediting the game more. Yet he should be allowed a 2nd chance for his stupid actions but the Doncaster player shouldn't?



Drugs cheats discredit and tarnish the integrity of the game just as much if not more than betting. Who's on drugs and who's not? We have no idea.



I'm happy for the Doncaster player to receive a harsh ban. A year, 2 years, whatever. But it shouldn't be a life ban. He might find it difficult to convince a club to sign him but that's his problem.



How many incidents of betting has there been since the Long & Gleeson affair? It's hardly a recurring issue. There have certainly been more incidents of drug taking, violence off the pitch and salary cap issues in the same time period which cause equal if not more damage to the credibility of the sport yet you aren't advocating life bans or the equivalent in these cases? Why not?



In the end if Gareth Hock and Ruan Hudson are allowed a second chance despite discrediting the sport, if Saints, Bradford, Wigan etc arent given huge penalties despite cheating the league then why should this player be given the maximum punishment possible in the sport. Is this really the worst thing a player could do?

Whatever you do there are always going to be people who will break the rules. Regardless of deterent. Thats why this happened, and Hock took drugs, and Gleeson and long did it etc etc



This is without knowing if he is indeed guilty.



Being honest, Ben Cockayne would have probably done it in the next few months anyway ... It must have been on his to do list





But hey i guess assaults and racial slurs are ok for credibility of the game.