Crime bosses tempt NRL stars

CRIME figures supplied NRL players with prostitutes, cocaine and encouraged them to gamble to get “inside” information for betting on NRL games, a police investigation found.

Two of Sydney’s biggest crime figures — known for drug trafficking and money laundering — have been linked to a number of players after NSW Police’s probe into match-fixing allegations. But the investigation failed to uncover evidence of match fixing relating to three matches in 2015 and one in 2016.

Police said although they found no evidence that the games were rigged, they did detect a number of irregular bets made by individuals, including $100,000 placed by people acting for a major gambling identity.

Others, including players and former players were observed making much larger bets than usual. Some $50 punters were instead recorded betting $10,000 and $15,000 at a time.

Strike Force Nuralda, which was set up after police were contacted by the NRL and betting agencies to look into the four matches — which included Manly’s games against South Sydney in June 2015, and Parramatta in August 2015 — identified 13 persons of interest.

“While investigators were provided information and noted suspicious betting behaviour, no one has been or will be prosecuted under Strike Force Nuralda,’’ police said yesterday.

Senior police this week warned the NRL that although no one would be charged, there were some clubs and players they believed were vulnerable to exploitation by criminal influences and would work to address the dangers.