Player found guilty in NRL betting scandal

SYDNEY (AP) — Former Canterbury Bulldogs forward Ryan Tandy was fined and placed on a 12-month good behavior bond Thursday for his part in a National Rugby League betting scandal.

Magistrate Janet Wahlquist found the player guilty of being involved in a plan to manipulate the first scoring of an August 2010 game between the Bulldogs and the North Queensland Cowboys. Tandy denied charges that he deliberately conceded a penalty which could have allowed the Cowboys to score the first points of the match by a goal.

In sentencing, Wahlquist said she took into account the "sophisticated level of criminality" of Tandy's actions, but also the fact that he didn't have a prior criminal record. He was fined 4,000 Australian dollars ($3,800) for his part in the scam.

She said she had initially considered community service, but because Tandy was injured and relied on crutches, she decided it wasn't appropriate.

Australia's rugby league governing body, the NRL, will likely hand Tandy a lifetime ban from the sport.

In a statement on its website, the NRL reaffirmed it will impose life bans on anyone convicted of match fixing, but noted there are "a number of other legal matters still to be heard in connection with this investigation."

It said it will reserve imposing any penalties on any person found guilty of fixing any part of a match until those matters are resolved.

"In the meantime, Ryan Tandy is not a registered player with the NRL and no registration would be entertained at this point or until all matters are resolved," the NRL said.

Tandy had pleaded not guilty to his involvement in manipulating the match to dishonestly obtain a financial advantage for "(player manager) Sam Ayoub, (former player) John Elias and others" to the value of A$113,245 ($109,000).

Wahlquist also concluded that Tandy owed A$35,000 ($34,000) in gambling debts at the time of the game, which he also had denied.

Wahlquist said the plan had to include at least one player to make the bet come off, and the only rational hypothesis was that Tandy's role was to do all that he could to make sure the Cowboys scored first via a penalty kick.

"He is the only player the evidence points to," Wahlquist said, adding she was not satisfied it was a coincidence there was an attempted sting regarding the betting on the score.

The charge relates to an "unusual" betting plunge on the 2010 match, specifically to bets that the first points would be scored from a Cowboys' penalty goal.

Tandy, 30, was penalized two minutes into the game for impeding a Cowboys player in front of the goal posts after spilling the ball and giving away possession. The Cowboys eventually scored the first points with a try.

Australian state and federal lawmakers are in the process of formulating harsh nationwide penalties for match fixing and sports corruption that could carry sentences of up to 10 years in prison.