"Detectives from the Organised Crime Squad's Strke Force Nuralda have met with the NRL integrity unit in relation to reported conduct of a 25-year-old player," according to a police statement. Strike Force Nuralda was formed to investigate potential match fixing of at least two NRL fixtures, both which involved Manly. NRL chief executive Todd Greenberg won't hesitate to ban for life any player found guilty of breaking betting rules. A tough-talking Greenberg defended the game's close association with gambling following the Tim Simona investigation, saying players had been given enough education and were acutely aware of their responsibilities. Asked if he would hesitate to ban anyone for life, Greenberg said: "There are massive penalties in place for players that do the wrong thing and the integrity of the game is central to that.

"If and when we need to make some hard decisions, we'll make them." It is understood the NRL received a tip-off informing them of Simona's betting activity, which prompted an investigation by the NRL that led to last week's show-cause notice being sent. Simona, who has played 79 games for the Tigers since 2011, has been shopped around to rival clubs over the past few months in a bid to absolve the joint venture of their salary cap woes leading into the start of their season next Friday night. Under NRL rules each club has to be under the salary cap by the start of round one, however the Tigers will apply for special cap dispensation from the governing body. The Tigers have been trying to offload a player over the pre-season to comply with the salary cap, however they are reluctant to move on a player if Simona's contract is terminated by the NRL and therefore puts them under the cap for 2017.

The Tigers have been keen to offload Simona for some time, but the club wasn't aware of the allegations made against their player until last Thursday – the day before their last trial match against the Cowboys in Campbelltown that Simona wasn't allowed to play in. While Simona was given five business days to put together an appeal to salvage his career, it is understood the Samoan international is still receiving information from the NRL's investigation and won't have to front the integrity unit until five days from the point of receiving all relevant documentation. Under the NRL's betting code: "No NRL employee, NRL club employee, player, player manager or game official is allowed to participate, or be directly or indirectly involved in any way, in gambling in relation to rugby league. Or be involved directly or indirectly, in the provision of information not already in the public domain that might assist another person to gamble in relation to rugby league." The last high-profile player to be banned for betting on matches was former Origin and Australian international, David Williams. The Manly winger was banned for half the season and struggled to revive his career after he was found to have bet on several NRL matches, including games he was involved in for the Sea Eagles.

He was one of five players caught by the NRL, including Ethan Lowe, Cody Nelson, Hymel Hunt and Slade Griffin – who were stood down for breaching the code's rules. Greenberg defended the NRL's close ties to betting agencies and the prolific advertisement of odds during matches. The NRL boss said players were well aware they couldn't bet on matches and the affair had nothing to do with gambling advertising. "Players are acutely aware of their responsibilities, they know they can't bet on rugby league," Greenberg said. "And if they do and are found guilty, there will be significant ramifications including career-defining decisions.

"Players put at great jeopardy their careers if they consider that. "It's well-understood, it's contractual, there's enough education, every player knows the rules." with Michael Chammas, AAP