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Wests Tigers 2017 Premiers
No Worries- Moderator
- NRL FF Survivor Champion : I'm like the waterboy.
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And Knights made the 8? Wow this truly is a fantasy world
bluetige- Posts : 2235
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Join date : 2015-12-13
Great performance by the lads last night, played really well and out enthused the Rabbitohs easily. Right side D still looks an problem for us though.
No Worries- Moderator
- NRL FF Survivor Champion : I'm like the waterboy.
Posts : 10527
Reputation : 7277
Join date : 2015-07-31
FebruaryChamp- Posts : 141
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Join date : 2017-01-25
How dare Jason Taylor treat a legend like that.
No Worries- Moderator
- NRL FF Survivor Champion : I'm like the waterboy.
Posts : 10527
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Join date : 2015-07-31
I've been wondering about this. I use to get the monthly or thereabouts invites.
Pieman- Posts : 3553
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poor simona... but fark, if he is the first player in rugby league to flog charity money - Ill eat my hat
Milchcow
Milchcow- Moderator
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Pieman wrote:poor simona... but fark, if he is the first player in rugby league to flog charity money - Ill eat my hat
I suspect if it was only the charity stuff he'd still be OK (or at least in far less trouble than he is)
It the whole betting on his team to lose that it is the killer, as match fixing is really something the NRL does not want associated with the sport.
You can bet if there was any substance to the Manly rumours from last year, and the NRL had hard evidence of it, anyone concerned would be facing a similar punishment.
Pieman- Posts : 3553
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haha yeah sorry.. I didnt actually mean "poor simona"... more like, bad luck you got caught, because there is no way he is the only one placing dodgy bets and stealing shit
bluetige- Posts : 2235
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Join date : 2015-12-13
Many people have problems viewing DT articles but I have managed to see the first 3 of 5 articles written by Tigers hater Phil Rothfield re Tim Simona.
TIM Simona deserves no sympathy. None at all.
Anyone prepared to take money intended for a children’s charity, use cocaine and bet against his own footy team is a ratbag. Dishonourable and disgusting.
However …
I spent much of last week in Simona’s company as he was confessing to his drug use, taking charity money and gambling sprees. The abortion and everything else.
And I began to like him. Strange, but true.
Here is a disgraced 25-year-old player doing something other footballers run from.
There is no depression card. No excuses.
I asked him whether the pressure and spotlight of being an NRL star turn him towards drugs and poker machines. No, no excuse.
He took responsibility for his actions and full ownership of what he has done.
Again on the question of the abortion. Straight up, he admitted he told his former girlfriend that he would not be there to support the birth off her child. Not nice, but at least honest.
A lot of other players would go into hiding and we would never hear from them.
Not that I can recall any player who has disgraced himself to the extent
Simona has.
But we still haven’t heard from Bryce Cartwright on last Sunday’s horrible abortion story. At least Simona has fronted up.
They say with any addiction you have to hit rock bottom before you can actually do something about it.
Rest assured Tim Simona has reached that point. He is ashamed of himself.
Others in his position can deal with the shame in private.
His story and confessions are plastered across the front page of this newspaper.
That he was prepared to at least own up is a step in the right direction.
He plans to repay the charity Camp Quality as soon as possible.
Maybe even next week. That’s the easy part.
To rebuild trust and respect is the long-term goal. Today he has at least taken the first small step.
His drug addiction - which began on a Wests Tigers Mad Monday cruise three years ago - and his ripping off of charities to fuel his need for cocaine and gambling show just how far the NRL star has fallen.
THE DRUGS
In a stunning confession with ramifications for the Wests Tigers, Simona revealed he became a regular user of cocaine after a Mad Monday cruise three years ago.
He says he had never touched drugs before.
“There was about six or seven of us.
“We went to the toilets, and just snort a line pretty much,” he said.
“That was the first time I had ever touched drugs. From then on every time I would go out, I would start using it.
“When we went to the nightclubs it was usually in the toilets, or at a mate’s place before we went out you know, we would take it.”
Gradually it got out of control. Some weekends he spent as much as $1500 on drugs.
“I’d buy a bag - $300 a bag and that’d last an hour,” he said.
“I’d share it with friends and stuff. I’d buy five bags for the weekend. Spending money like that you don’t even think about it.
“I just couldn’t go out and be sober.
“It was supposed to be fun. Just hanging around with cool guys who would own businesses. Going out on weekends and having boat parties with girls.”
Considering the NRL’s drug testing, it was surprising he was never caught.
He confirmed he was tested as often as any of his team mates.
“I was never scared,” he said.
“Actually I’d been tested quite a few times, and obviously I knew when to take it. In the rep round when we had the weekend off I would take it or if there was a long turn around between games.
“I would take it on a Friday so by Monday I think it would be out of my system.”
According to his manager, Simona was also hanging around with the wrong crowd.
He grew up in Mount Druitt and kept in contact with old friends.
“When I went out everyone was pretty much on it and I just felt like I wanted to be a part of it.
“My family comes from a big church family. I felt if I wanted to be churchy people would think I was boring. That’s when I went from churchy to trying to be a cool kid joining everyone with drugs.”
THE CHARITY RIP-OFF
The NRL enquired into the deceptive sale of signed jerseys for personal profit.
Here is how it worked. Simona purchased Wests Tigers jerseys with his own money.
He would take them to training at Concord Oval and place them on a table outside the dressing room where merchandise is often left to be autographed by the players for fundraisers.
Once they were signed Simona took them home to be auctioned on social media.
He confesses to have done this up a dozen times and kept the money.
There was a time last year when his then girlfriend Jaya Taki was involved as well.
She advertised on Facebook: “Tim Simona has donated this 2016 signed Wests Tigers jersey for my charity The Sharlz Taki Foundation.”
On March 16 last year Simona sent a text message to his partner saying three jerseys sold for $500, $550 and $650.
His girlfriend replied: “Killed it. Team work baby. And sooooooo much lying.”
They even had Wests Tigers players posing with the jerseys before they were auctioned on social media for the Sharlz Taki Foundation, in memory of Ms Taki’s deceased brother.
Simona says to Taki in a text message: “50/50 remember lol.”
Ms Taki denies she kept any of the funds.
“I’m so ashamed of what I’ve done,” Simona said.
“It shows how low you’ll go to get money. One jersey turned into five jerseys which turned into like eight, nine jerseys.
“There are no excuses. All I can do is give them the money when I get back on my feet.”
THE FUTURE
Simona has been seeing a psychologist for three weeks for counselling.
We talk about his hopes of getting his life sorted. About possibly moving overseas to play rugby union in Europe.
There are a few encouraging signs. He is not blaming the pressure of being an NRL star.
He is not playing the depression card. He is at least taking some ownership.
“I just want to become a better person,” he said.
“The first thing I’m going to do is get the money I owe back to the charity. Maybe the fact I’ve been caught is a blessing. I can start fresh.
“To tell the truth and be trusted again. No more drugs, no more gambling, no more lies.
“Even if I could look back in 12 months and know I’ve actually done something about it.
“At the moment that means more than playing football.”
THE THREATS
The text message records show Simona made threats after Ms Taki handed her phone over to the integrity unit.
She has not been to the police.
The Sunday Telegraph has seen more of their text message exchanges.
Simona: “If I lose my job shit gonna hit the fan. Hope you’re happy with your decision.”
Ms Taki: “No it won’t. You can’t do anything to me.”
Simona: “Lol watch.”
Ms Taki: “They told me to tell them if you threaten me.”
Simona: “Good screen shot and show them.”
In one exchange Simona said: “If you tell me I’m lying again I will f... you up next time I see you c....”
Simona: “F... up c... or you will see what happens dickhead.”
In another exchange, Simona texts: “Don’t f..king text me back I’m over your bullshit. Later”
GETTING CAUGHT
The NRL became suspicious last year when the Simona and Ms Taki ended their relationship.
Ms Taki posting on Facebook: “So here I go again, having to teach you a lesson. Tim Simona if you ever f… with me this is what happens. Betting on your own games, cocaine, abortions and cheating! This is the person little kids are meant to look up to?? I’ve had enough of this shit.”
She also attached screenshots of his bets and a picture of a line of coke.
Ms Taki later panicked and deleted the message.
But not before it came to the attention of Wests Tigers officials who reported it to the NRL.
Integrity unit chief investigator Karyn Murphy contacted Ms Taki and summonsed Simona to appear before the NRL.
The Sunday Telegraph has obtained Ms Taki’s panicking text messages to Simona on August 6 when she was contacted by the NRL.
“You need to call me.”
“Delete absolutely everything off your phone.”
“Call me now babe, right now.”
“I’ve had to shut down my Sportsbet account.”
Simona has now admitted he lied to the integrity unit.
At that stage the NRL had no evidence because Ms Taki hadn’t handed over her mobile phone or agreed to be interviewed.
He continued playing for the Wests Tigers but the scare was at least enough to stop him from gambling on games.
In November, Ms Taki - now Simona’s ex-girlfriend met with the integrity unit and handed over her mobile phone with all the messages and proof of the betting.
The NRL obtained the betting records from their major sponsor Sportsbet and this time they had all the evidence to throw Simona out of the game.
THE VICIOUS FALLOUT
On February 7 this year, Ms Taki sent the following text messages to Simona.
At 9.05am: “Hey, I didn’t see them (integrity unit) yesterday cos I had to work in the end but last chance now, put the money I want or get my boobs done and then I’ll block them. Otherwise I’ll see them next week.”
At 5.10pm: “Still ignoring me. Haven’t you learnt that ignoring me doesn’t work? And makes me angrier. Haven’t you learnt that I always come through with my threats. You are so stupid it hurts my brain.
“You are blocked so you can’t reply. You have had hundreds of chances. It’s over now. No more lying for you. Payback for the bullshit.”
And this text message exchange on another day:
Ms Taki: “Feel free to give me 10k then I won’t tell.”
Simona: “You say some hurtful things. Can you stick to not messaging me.”
Ms Taki: “For 10k for sure.”
Ms Taki again: “Last chance Tim. You gonna give me money or I’ll call Moe. Now. Got 5 mins or I’m calling. If you can threaten me I’ll be ruthless.”
Simona said their relationship ended abruptly when he started seeing another woman.
“She must have heard that I was seeing someone else and you know, she’s like “how could you do that to me? I’m going to get that story out,” he said.
“That when I decided not to speak to her again and then she got hurt.”
That's all I got at the moment, I can't access the last 2 parts to the article
TIM Simona deserves no sympathy. None at all.
Anyone prepared to take money intended for a children’s charity, use cocaine and bet against his own footy team is a ratbag. Dishonourable and disgusting.
However …
I spent much of last week in Simona’s company as he was confessing to his drug use, taking charity money and gambling sprees. The abortion and everything else.
And I began to like him. Strange, but true.
Here is a disgraced 25-year-old player doing something other footballers run from.
There is no depression card. No excuses.
I asked him whether the pressure and spotlight of being an NRL star turn him towards drugs and poker machines. No, no excuse.
He took responsibility for his actions and full ownership of what he has done.
Again on the question of the abortion. Straight up, he admitted he told his former girlfriend that he would not be there to support the birth off her child. Not nice, but at least honest.
A lot of other players would go into hiding and we would never hear from them.
Not that I can recall any player who has disgraced himself to the extent
Simona has.
But we still haven’t heard from Bryce Cartwright on last Sunday’s horrible abortion story. At least Simona has fronted up.
They say with any addiction you have to hit rock bottom before you can actually do something about it.
Rest assured Tim Simona has reached that point. He is ashamed of himself.
Others in his position can deal with the shame in private.
His story and confessions are plastered across the front page of this newspaper.
That he was prepared to at least own up is a step in the right direction.
He plans to repay the charity Camp Quality as soon as possible.
Maybe even next week. That’s the easy part.
To rebuild trust and respect is the long-term goal. Today he has at least taken the first small step.
His drug addiction - which began on a Wests Tigers Mad Monday cruise three years ago - and his ripping off of charities to fuel his need for cocaine and gambling show just how far the NRL star has fallen.
THE DRUGS
In a stunning confession with ramifications for the Wests Tigers, Simona revealed he became a regular user of cocaine after a Mad Monday cruise three years ago.
He says he had never touched drugs before.
“There was about six or seven of us.
“We went to the toilets, and just snort a line pretty much,” he said.
“That was the first time I had ever touched drugs. From then on every time I would go out, I would start using it.
“When we went to the nightclubs it was usually in the toilets, or at a mate’s place before we went out you know, we would take it.”
Gradually it got out of control. Some weekends he spent as much as $1500 on drugs.
“I’d buy a bag - $300 a bag and that’d last an hour,” he said.
“I’d share it with friends and stuff. I’d buy five bags for the weekend. Spending money like that you don’t even think about it.
“I just couldn’t go out and be sober.
“It was supposed to be fun. Just hanging around with cool guys who would own businesses. Going out on weekends and having boat parties with girls.”
Considering the NRL’s drug testing, it was surprising he was never caught.
He confirmed he was tested as often as any of his team mates.
“I was never scared,” he said.
“Actually I’d been tested quite a few times, and obviously I knew when to take it. In the rep round when we had the weekend off I would take it or if there was a long turn around between games.
“I would take it on a Friday so by Monday I think it would be out of my system.”
According to his manager, Simona was also hanging around with the wrong crowd.
He grew up in Mount Druitt and kept in contact with old friends.
“When I went out everyone was pretty much on it and I just felt like I wanted to be a part of it.
“My family comes from a big church family. I felt if I wanted to be churchy people would think I was boring. That’s when I went from churchy to trying to be a cool kid joining everyone with drugs.”
THE CHARITY RIP-OFF
The NRL enquired into the deceptive sale of signed jerseys for personal profit.
Here is how it worked. Simona purchased Wests Tigers jerseys with his own money.
He would take them to training at Concord Oval and place them on a table outside the dressing room where merchandise is often left to be autographed by the players for fundraisers.
Once they were signed Simona took them home to be auctioned on social media.
He confesses to have done this up a dozen times and kept the money.
There was a time last year when his then girlfriend Jaya Taki was involved as well.
She advertised on Facebook: “Tim Simona has donated this 2016 signed Wests Tigers jersey for my charity The Sharlz Taki Foundation.”
On March 16 last year Simona sent a text message to his partner saying three jerseys sold for $500, $550 and $650.
His girlfriend replied: “Killed it. Team work baby. And sooooooo much lying.”
They even had Wests Tigers players posing with the jerseys before they were auctioned on social media for the Sharlz Taki Foundation, in memory of Ms Taki’s deceased brother.
Simona says to Taki in a text message: “50/50 remember lol.”
Ms Taki denies she kept any of the funds.
“I’m so ashamed of what I’ve done,” Simona said.
“It shows how low you’ll go to get money. One jersey turned into five jerseys which turned into like eight, nine jerseys.
“There are no excuses. All I can do is give them the money when I get back on my feet.”
THE FUTURE
Simona has been seeing a psychologist for three weeks for counselling.
We talk about his hopes of getting his life sorted. About possibly moving overseas to play rugby union in Europe.
There are a few encouraging signs. He is not blaming the pressure of being an NRL star.
He is not playing the depression card. He is at least taking some ownership.
“I just want to become a better person,” he said.
“The first thing I’m going to do is get the money I owe back to the charity. Maybe the fact I’ve been caught is a blessing. I can start fresh.
“To tell the truth and be trusted again. No more drugs, no more gambling, no more lies.
“Even if I could look back in 12 months and know I’ve actually done something about it.
“At the moment that means more than playing football.”
THE THREATS
The text message records show Simona made threats after Ms Taki handed her phone over to the integrity unit.
She has not been to the police.
The Sunday Telegraph has seen more of their text message exchanges.
Simona: “If I lose my job shit gonna hit the fan. Hope you’re happy with your decision.”
Ms Taki: “No it won’t. You can’t do anything to me.”
Simona: “Lol watch.”
Ms Taki: “They told me to tell them if you threaten me.”
Simona: “Good screen shot and show them.”
In one exchange Simona said: “If you tell me I’m lying again I will f... you up next time I see you c....”
Simona: “F... up c... or you will see what happens dickhead.”
In another exchange, Simona texts: “Don’t f..king text me back I’m over your bullshit. Later”
GETTING CAUGHT
The NRL became suspicious last year when the Simona and Ms Taki ended their relationship.
Ms Taki posting on Facebook: “So here I go again, having to teach you a lesson. Tim Simona if you ever f… with me this is what happens. Betting on your own games, cocaine, abortions and cheating! This is the person little kids are meant to look up to?? I’ve had enough of this shit.”
She also attached screenshots of his bets and a picture of a line of coke.
Ms Taki later panicked and deleted the message.
But not before it came to the attention of Wests Tigers officials who reported it to the NRL.
Integrity unit chief investigator Karyn Murphy contacted Ms Taki and summonsed Simona to appear before the NRL.
The Sunday Telegraph has obtained Ms Taki’s panicking text messages to Simona on August 6 when she was contacted by the NRL.
“You need to call me.”
“Delete absolutely everything off your phone.”
“Call me now babe, right now.”
“I’ve had to shut down my Sportsbet account.”
Simona has now admitted he lied to the integrity unit.
At that stage the NRL had no evidence because Ms Taki hadn’t handed over her mobile phone or agreed to be interviewed.
He continued playing for the Wests Tigers but the scare was at least enough to stop him from gambling on games.
In November, Ms Taki - now Simona’s ex-girlfriend met with the integrity unit and handed over her mobile phone with all the messages and proof of the betting.
The NRL obtained the betting records from their major sponsor Sportsbet and this time they had all the evidence to throw Simona out of the game.
THE VICIOUS FALLOUT
On February 7 this year, Ms Taki sent the following text messages to Simona.
At 9.05am: “Hey, I didn’t see them (integrity unit) yesterday cos I had to work in the end but last chance now, put the money I want or get my boobs done and then I’ll block them. Otherwise I’ll see them next week.”
At 5.10pm: “Still ignoring me. Haven’t you learnt that ignoring me doesn’t work? And makes me angrier. Haven’t you learnt that I always come through with my threats. You are so stupid it hurts my brain.
“You are blocked so you can’t reply. You have had hundreds of chances. It’s over now. No more lying for you. Payback for the bullshit.”
And this text message exchange on another day:
Ms Taki: “Feel free to give me 10k then I won’t tell.”
Simona: “You say some hurtful things. Can you stick to not messaging me.”
Ms Taki: “For 10k for sure.”
Ms Taki again: “Last chance Tim. You gonna give me money or I’ll call Moe. Now. Got 5 mins or I’m calling. If you can threaten me I’ll be ruthless.”
Simona said their relationship ended abruptly when he started seeing another woman.
“She must have heard that I was seeing someone else and you know, she’s like “how could you do that to me? I’m going to get that story out,” he said.
“That when I decided not to speak to her again and then she got hurt.”
That's all I got at the moment, I can't access the last 2 parts to the article
bluetige- Posts : 2235
Reputation : 749
Join date : 2015-12-13
I Also found this on the West Tigers Forum. Some info is new and different to whats above
"BANNED NRL star Tim Simona has finally confessed to the lot - betting on games, cocaine use, ripping off a children’s charity and deceiving not only his Wests Tigers team mates but the code’s drug enforcers.
The 25-year-old admits the money that was supposed to aid sick children from auctioning autographed Wests Tigers jerseys went into his own pockets to feed his shocking gambling addiction and drug use.
A bitter falling out with ex-girlfriend Jaya Taki, following an abortion, led her to expose his match betting which resulted in the NRL seizing her mobile phone and hundreds of damning text messages between the pair.
Simona was deregistered by the NRL on Friday and handed an indefinite ban. He sat down with Phil Rothfield to finally tell the truth.
THE GAMBLING
Simona started betting when he was 18, mainly on poker machines but more recently on rugby league games.
Between March and August last year, he had 65 bets on matches totalling $905.
Of those 65 bets he backed a winner only once – the day he put $10 on himself at odds of $18 to score two or more tries in the round 17 game against the Penrith Panthers in July.
LISTEN AS TIM SIMONA TELLS BUZZ ROTHFIELD ABOUT HIS DRUG ADDICITION AND HOW HE RIPPED OFF CHARITIES
But this was nothing compared to the money he butchered on poker machines and a cocaine addiction.
He lost thousands of dollars every week in pubs and clubs across Sydney, disguising himself under a hoodie to blend in with the other punters.
“I could lose four or five grand in a weekend,” he said of his gambling.
“I’d lose a grand, and then two grand on the Saturday, I’d try and chase it up and get it back on the Sunday.
“Once you lose something big, you want to try and get it back, and then you just dig yourself into a deeper hole.
“I never wanted to discuss it with anyone. I was too ashamed, too embarrassed, I didn’t want anyone to know.
“Every time I walked past a pub or was waiting for a train I’d play the machines,” he said.
But it was his betting on matches that brought his gambling to the fore.
The NRL integrity unit found from mobile phone records and betting statements that he placed bets on St George Illawarra stars Benji Marshall and Adam Quinlan to score against his own team.
Tim Simona has opened up on his illegal gambling.
They didn’t.
Match videos The Sunday Telegraph and integrity unit have studied give no hint that he did anything unusual on the field to suit his betting patterns.
His bets were placed in an account that had been opened in the name of his then girlfriend Jaya Taki to avoid detection with corporate bookmaker Sportsbet.
In July he also backed the Bulldogs to win 1-12 against his own Wests Tigers team in a multi-bet with himself to be the first try scorer.
“When you’re gambling and when you’re desperate you don’t even think about what you’re betting on. You know the consequences but you still do it. That’s the disease and the addiction.
“It was so dumb and so stupid”.
THE LOSSES
It’s been a costly carnage. Probably hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Simona was being paid $325,000 a year at the Wests Tigers.
He has nothing to show for it. Not even a car.
He lives with his mum, dad and family in a $560 a week rented house in Macquarie Fields, in Sydney’s south west.
He pays the rent and supports the family.
He has no car because he lost his licence for five years in 2012 for repeated speeding infringements and getting caught driving while disqualified on the way home from a Wests Tigers training session.
Tim Simona discusses the gambling issues that ruined his NRL career
The judge warned him next time he’ll go to jail. He travels by train or gets a lift with friends.
It is surprising no-one at the Wests Tigers suspected there was a problem.
He has on four occasions he asked for and had been given advance payments on his contract when he had lost all his money or had to pay urgent bills.
His manager Isaac Moses knew Simona had a problem handling cash but could do little about it.
Moses set up a plan where his football earnings would go into a separate bank account and his player would be paid a salary.
It lasted only two months because Simona kept asking him for money.
“I was out of control,” Simona said.
“I was throwing away money. I didn’t realise how big my problem was until I got caught.”
Tim Simona has been banned indefinitely from playing in the NRL.
HOW THE SCANDAL UNFOLDED
Tim Simona had the same betting habits as any casual rugby league punter.
He liked first tryscorers, margin-betting and his average bet size was under $15.
Between round four last year (the Wests Tigers against the Parramatta Eels) and round 21 (the Roosters against the Broncos), the NRL star placed a total of 65 bets on games.
All up he outlaid $905 in a Sportsbet account that had been opened in the name of his ex-girlfriend to avoid detection.
This was nothing like the money he butchered on poker machines and cocaine use but a complete breach of the NRL’s rules for a player, especially betting on opponents.
Simona says he feels for the fans he let down.
The most concerning bets for the NRL were in the Round 20 game against St George Illawarra at ANZ Stadium when he backed two opposition players to score the first try.
Betting records show he put $10 on Dragons pair Benji Marshall and Adam Quinlan to score the opening try but increased his odds by combining the bets with the Wests Tigers to win by 13 plus.
The Wests Tigers won 25-12 but Kurt Mann scored the opening try for St George Illawarra.
Simona and the opponent he backed, Quinlan, played in the centres that day but a check of the match video shows they were on opposite sides of the field.
So it was always highly unlikely Simona would be in a position to intentionally miss a tackle on the players he had backed.
Although the following text message exchange with his then partner before the game was of huge concern to the integrity unit.
Jaya: Why you choosing that guy (Quinlan) to score first?
Simona: I’m marking him lol. If I let him.
Jaya: What does that mean? Oh he will be opposite you?
Simona: Yes.
JayaOhhhhh.
Simona: You think.
Jaya: Hmmm dangerous.
Simona: Yep.
Jaya: This is legit match-fixing now.
Jaya Taki set up the gambling account for Simona to use. She did this at his request.
Asked about the text messages and the bets, Simona said:
“I know it looks bad. It was just dumb, stupid. When you’re gambling and when you’re desperate you don’t even think about what you’re betting on.
“You know the consequences but you still do it. That’s the disease and the addiction.
“I would never let an opposition player score if I was there. Never. Never. Bets mean nothing when I’m on the field. I would never let me teammates down. The Wests Tigers jersey meant everything to me and still does.”
Simona’s bets ranged in size from $5 to $50.
Of those 65 bets he backed a winner only once — the day he put $10 on himself at odds of $18 to score two or more tries in the round 17 game against the Penrith Panthers in July.
In that same game he also backed fullback James Tedesco to score the first try with his opponents the Panthers to win by 1-12.
The Wests Tigers won the game 34-26 and Tedesco missed out on the first try.
All bets were placed via the Sportsbet app on Simona’s own mobile phone.
On some weekends he had as many as eight bets different games.
“I would never let an opposition player score if I was there. Never. Never.” ~Tim Simona
The betting continued until he was secretly summoned to appear before the integrity unit on August 17 last year following a tip-off from his former girlfriend and a post on Facebook after their relationship ended.
So secret not even his manager Isaac Moses knew about it.
Simona attended the meeting with former Wests Tigers general manager Mark O’Neill but denied any knowledge of the Sportsbet account and told the integrity unit he never bet on rugby league.
He’s now admitted to be a liar.
The records show Simona was betting small but trying to win big.
His first bet in late March 2016 was $10 his team mate Sauaso Sue paying $61 to be first try scorer against the Parramatta Eels.
In that same game he put $20 on himself to be first try scorer.
The following week another $20 on himself to be first try scorer against the Cronulla Sharks.
He says his team mates and Wests Tigers officials had no idea what he was doing.
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Simona deregistered by NRL
The only evidence was when the integrity unit downloaded all the Whats App messages in his former girlfriend’s mobile phone between March and August.
On March 25 Simona texted his girlfriend a number of times: “Can you create a account for sports bet so I can bet on the footy under your name cause I can’t lol.
“Whatever I use from your card I’ll pay you in cash. That sounds better, right?
They knew they were in dangerous territory.
Simona: “Imagine the coppers tracking what we say.”
Girlfriend: “I swear I was thinking that.”
Simona: “It’s a $30k fine and my career gone. It’s your account to I think I’m safe.”
At first the Wests Tigers centre had to instruct Jaya Taki on how to use the betting account.
“You’ll figure it out. Just find NRL head to head/Tigers v Parra/ first tryscorer, think I’m paying 18 bucks.”
By midway through the season he was using the account log on himself and placing the bets via his mobile phone.
There was serious concern about his text messages before the Wests Tigers played the Panthers on July 2. They discuss backing Wests Tigers winger Jordan Rankin.
Simona says: “His my winger — I’ll pass him the ball to score.”
Despite the damaging text messages, Simona insists throughout the interview he was playing to win every week. That once he ran onto the field, the gambling had no effect or on his performance.
Certainly videos The Sunday Telegraph and integrity unit have watched give no hint that he did anything unusual on the field to suit his betting patterns.
“I’m just embarrassed and ashamed,” he said.
“It was so dumb and so stupid. Importantly the players know I’d never be involved in match-fixing.
“They’ve all been texting me since it happened.
“They know what I did was wrong but they understand I always gave 100 per cent.”
THE BETS SIMONA PLACED
Grouped bets in the table below indicate wagers that were tied together in multis:
BET ODDS RESULT MATCH MARKET SELECTION/WIN-LOSS (W-L)
$10 61 LOSS Tigers v Eels First tryscorer Sauaso Sue (L)
$20 18 LOSS Tigers v Eels First tryscorer Tim Simona (L)
$20 18 LOSS Tigers v Sharks First tryscorer Tim Simona (L)
$30 17 LOSS Titans v Dragons First goal scorecast Anthony Don (L)
$30 17 LOSS Titans v Dragons First goal scorecast Titans 1 to 12 (L)
$20 17 LOSS Bulldogs v Warriors First goal scorecast Curtis Rona (L)
$20 17 LOSS Bulldogs v Warriors First goal scorecast Bulldogs 1 to 12 (L)
$10 29 LOSS Tigers v Storm First goal scorecast James Tedesco (L)
$10 29 LOSS Tigers v Storm First goal scorecast Storm 1 to 12 (L)
$20 20 LOSS Rabbitohs v Tigers First tryscorer Tim Simona (L)
$50 18 LOSS Tigers v Bulldogs First tryscorer Tim Simona (L)
$10 31 LOSS Storm v Tigers Score 2 or more tries in 80min Tim Simona (L)
$5 26 LOSS Storm v Tigers First tryscorer Tim Simona (L)
$30 31 LOSS Storm v Tigers Score 2 or more tries in 80min Tim Simona (L)
$20 26 LOSS Storm v Tigers First tryscorer Tim Simona (L)
$10 29 LOSS Tigers v Panthers First goal scorecast James Tedesco (L)
$10 29 LOSS Tigers v Panthers First goal scorecast Panthers 1 to 12 (L)
$10 26 LOSS Tigers v Panthers Will there be extra time? Yes (L)
$10 46 LOSS Tigers v Panthers First goal scorecast Tim Simona (P)
$10 46 LOSS Tigers v Panthers First goal scorecast Tigers 1 to 12 (W)
$10 18 WIN Tigers v Panthers Score 2 or more tries in 80min Tim Simona (W)
$10 14 LOSS Tigers v Panthers Last tryscorer Jordan Rankin (L)
$10 14 LOSS Tigers v Panthers Last tryscorer David Nofoaluma (L)
$10 61 LOSS Sea Eagles v Dragons First goal scorecast Jorge Taufua (P)
$10 61 LOSS Sea Eagles v Dragons First goal scorecast Dragons 13+ (L)
$5 36 LOSS Eels v Roosters First goal scorecast Clint Gutherson (L)
$5 36 LOSS Eels v Roosters First goal scorecast Eels 1 to 12 (W)
$10 51 LOSS Eels v Roosters First goal scorecast Shaun Kenny-Dowall (L)
$10 51 LOSS Eels v Roosters First goal scorecast Eels 13+ (L)
$10 26 LOSS Eels v Roosters First tryscorer Corey Norman (L)
$10 71 LOSS Eels v Roosters First goal scorecast Dale Copley (L)
$10 71 LOSS Eels v Roosters First goal scorecast Eels 1 to 12 (W)
$10 41 LOSS Bulldogs v Tigers Score 2 or more tries in 80min Sam Kasiano (L)
$10 86 LOSS Bulldogs v Tigers First goal scorecast Josh Addo-Carr (P)
$10 86 LOSS Bulldogs v Tigers First goal scorecast Tigers 13+ (L)
$10 76 LOSS Bulldogs v Tigers First goal scorecast Tim Simona (L)
$10 76 LOSS Bulldogs v Tigers First goal scorecast Bulldogs 1 to 12 (W)
$5 91 LOSS Bulldogs v Tigers Score 3 or more tries in 80min Tim Simona (L)
$5 18 LOSS Bulldogs v Tigers First tryscorer Tim Simona (L)
$10 36 LOSS Dragons v Titans First goal scorecast Jason Nightingale (L)
$10 36 LOSS Dragons v Titans First goal scorecast Titans 1 to 12 (L)
$10 15 LOSS Broncos v Panthers Win try combo Latu to score try & Broncos win (L)
$10 9 LOSS Broncos v Panthers First goal scorecast Corey Oates (L)
$10 9 LOSS Broncos v Panthers First goal scorecast Broncos 13+ (L)
$20 36 LOSS Broncos v Panthers First goal scorecast Josh Mansour (L)
$20 36 LOSS Broncos v Panthers First goal scorecast Broncos 13+ (L)
$20 36 LOSS Broncos v Panthers First goal scorecast Dallin Watene-Zelezniak (L)
$20 36 LOSS Broncos v Panthers First goal scorecast Broncos 13+ (L)
$10 131 LOSS Dragons v Tigers First goal scorecast Benji Matshall (L)
$10 131 LOSS Dragons v Tigers First goal scorecast Tigers 13+ (W)
$10 66 LOSS Dragons v Tigers First goal scorecast Adam Quinlan (L)
$10 66 LOSS Dragons v Tigers First goal scorecast Tigers 13+ (W)
$10 26 LOSS Sharks v Knights First goal scorecast Nathan Ross (L)
$10 26 LOSS Sharks v Knights First goal scorecast Sharks 13+ (W)
$10 23 LOSS Raiders v Warriors First tryscorer Josh Papalii (L)
$20 36 LOSS Dragons v Tigers First goal scorecast Kevin Naiqama (L)
$20 36 LOSS Dragons v Tigers First goal scorecast Tigers 1 to 12 (L)
$30 19 LOSS Roosters v Broncos Win first try combo Tupou to score 1st try, Broncos win (L)
$20 31 LOSS Roosters v Broncos First goal scorecast Corey Oates
$20 31 LOSS Roosters v Broncos First goal scorecast Roosters 1 to 12 (L)
$30 8.5 LOSS Roosters v Broncos Win try combo Cordner to score try, Broncos win (L)
$10 76 LOSS Roosters v Broncos First goal scorecast Jake Friend (L)
$10 76 LOSS Roosters v Broncos First goal scorecast Roosters 1 to 12 (L)
$10 71 LOSS Roosters v Broncos First goal scorecast Ben Hunt (L)
$10 71 LOSS Roosters v Broncos First goal scorecast Broncos 13+ (L)
"BANNED NRL star Tim Simona has finally confessed to the lot - betting on games, cocaine use, ripping off a children’s charity and deceiving not only his Wests Tigers team mates but the code’s drug enforcers.
The 25-year-old admits the money that was supposed to aid sick children from auctioning autographed Wests Tigers jerseys went into his own pockets to feed his shocking gambling addiction and drug use.
A bitter falling out with ex-girlfriend Jaya Taki, following an abortion, led her to expose his match betting which resulted in the NRL seizing her mobile phone and hundreds of damning text messages between the pair.
Simona was deregistered by the NRL on Friday and handed an indefinite ban. He sat down with Phil Rothfield to finally tell the truth.
THE GAMBLING
Simona started betting when he was 18, mainly on poker machines but more recently on rugby league games.
Between March and August last year, he had 65 bets on matches totalling $905.
Of those 65 bets he backed a winner only once – the day he put $10 on himself at odds of $18 to score two or more tries in the round 17 game against the Penrith Panthers in July.
LISTEN AS TIM SIMONA TELLS BUZZ ROTHFIELD ABOUT HIS DRUG ADDICITION AND HOW HE RIPPED OFF CHARITIES
But this was nothing compared to the money he butchered on poker machines and a cocaine addiction.
He lost thousands of dollars every week in pubs and clubs across Sydney, disguising himself under a hoodie to blend in with the other punters.
“I could lose four or five grand in a weekend,” he said of his gambling.
“I’d lose a grand, and then two grand on the Saturday, I’d try and chase it up and get it back on the Sunday.
“Once you lose something big, you want to try and get it back, and then you just dig yourself into a deeper hole.
“I never wanted to discuss it with anyone. I was too ashamed, too embarrassed, I didn’t want anyone to know.
“Every time I walked past a pub or was waiting for a train I’d play the machines,” he said.
But it was his betting on matches that brought his gambling to the fore.
The NRL integrity unit found from mobile phone records and betting statements that he placed bets on St George Illawarra stars Benji Marshall and Adam Quinlan to score against his own team.
Tim Simona has opened up on his illegal gambling.
They didn’t.
Match videos The Sunday Telegraph and integrity unit have studied give no hint that he did anything unusual on the field to suit his betting patterns.
His bets were placed in an account that had been opened in the name of his then girlfriend Jaya Taki to avoid detection with corporate bookmaker Sportsbet.
In July he also backed the Bulldogs to win 1-12 against his own Wests Tigers team in a multi-bet with himself to be the first try scorer.
“When you’re gambling and when you’re desperate you don’t even think about what you’re betting on. You know the consequences but you still do it. That’s the disease and the addiction.
“It was so dumb and so stupid”.
THE LOSSES
It’s been a costly carnage. Probably hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Simona was being paid $325,000 a year at the Wests Tigers.
He has nothing to show for it. Not even a car.
He lives with his mum, dad and family in a $560 a week rented house in Macquarie Fields, in Sydney’s south west.
He pays the rent and supports the family.
He has no car because he lost his licence for five years in 2012 for repeated speeding infringements and getting caught driving while disqualified on the way home from a Wests Tigers training session.
Tim Simona discusses the gambling issues that ruined his NRL career
The judge warned him next time he’ll go to jail. He travels by train or gets a lift with friends.
It is surprising no-one at the Wests Tigers suspected there was a problem.
He has on four occasions he asked for and had been given advance payments on his contract when he had lost all his money or had to pay urgent bills.
His manager Isaac Moses knew Simona had a problem handling cash but could do little about it.
Moses set up a plan where his football earnings would go into a separate bank account and his player would be paid a salary.
It lasted only two months because Simona kept asking him for money.
“I was out of control,” Simona said.
“I was throwing away money. I didn’t realise how big my problem was until I got caught.”
Tim Simona has been banned indefinitely from playing in the NRL.
HOW THE SCANDAL UNFOLDED
Tim Simona had the same betting habits as any casual rugby league punter.
He liked first tryscorers, margin-betting and his average bet size was under $15.
Between round four last year (the Wests Tigers against the Parramatta Eels) and round 21 (the Roosters against the Broncos), the NRL star placed a total of 65 bets on games.
All up he outlaid $905 in a Sportsbet account that had been opened in the name of his ex-girlfriend to avoid detection.
This was nothing like the money he butchered on poker machines and cocaine use but a complete breach of the NRL’s rules for a player, especially betting on opponents.
Simona says he feels for the fans he let down.
The most concerning bets for the NRL were in the Round 20 game against St George Illawarra at ANZ Stadium when he backed two opposition players to score the first try.
Betting records show he put $10 on Dragons pair Benji Marshall and Adam Quinlan to score the opening try but increased his odds by combining the bets with the Wests Tigers to win by 13 plus.
The Wests Tigers won 25-12 but Kurt Mann scored the opening try for St George Illawarra.
Simona and the opponent he backed, Quinlan, played in the centres that day but a check of the match video shows they were on opposite sides of the field.
So it was always highly unlikely Simona would be in a position to intentionally miss a tackle on the players he had backed.
Although the following text message exchange with his then partner before the game was of huge concern to the integrity unit.
Jaya: Why you choosing that guy (Quinlan) to score first?
Simona: I’m marking him lol. If I let him.
Jaya: What does that mean? Oh he will be opposite you?
Simona: Yes.
JayaOhhhhh.
Simona: You think.
Jaya: Hmmm dangerous.
Simona: Yep.
Jaya: This is legit match-fixing now.
Jaya Taki set up the gambling account for Simona to use. She did this at his request.
Asked about the text messages and the bets, Simona said:
“I know it looks bad. It was just dumb, stupid. When you’re gambling and when you’re desperate you don’t even think about what you’re betting on.
“You know the consequences but you still do it. That’s the disease and the addiction.
“I would never let an opposition player score if I was there. Never. Never. Bets mean nothing when I’m on the field. I would never let me teammates down. The Wests Tigers jersey meant everything to me and still does.”
Simona’s bets ranged in size from $5 to $50.
Of those 65 bets he backed a winner only once — the day he put $10 on himself at odds of $18 to score two or more tries in the round 17 game against the Penrith Panthers in July.
In that same game he also backed fullback James Tedesco to score the first try with his opponents the Panthers to win by 1-12.
The Wests Tigers won the game 34-26 and Tedesco missed out on the first try.
All bets were placed via the Sportsbet app on Simona’s own mobile phone.
On some weekends he had as many as eight bets different games.
“I would never let an opposition player score if I was there. Never. Never.” ~Tim Simona
The betting continued until he was secretly summoned to appear before the integrity unit on August 17 last year following a tip-off from his former girlfriend and a post on Facebook after their relationship ended.
So secret not even his manager Isaac Moses knew about it.
Simona attended the meeting with former Wests Tigers general manager Mark O’Neill but denied any knowledge of the Sportsbet account and told the integrity unit he never bet on rugby league.
He’s now admitted to be a liar.
The records show Simona was betting small but trying to win big.
His first bet in late March 2016 was $10 his team mate Sauaso Sue paying $61 to be first try scorer against the Parramatta Eels.
In that same game he put $20 on himself to be first try scorer.
The following week another $20 on himself to be first try scorer against the Cronulla Sharks.
He says his team mates and Wests Tigers officials had no idea what he was doing.
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Simona deregistered by NRL
The only evidence was when the integrity unit downloaded all the Whats App messages in his former girlfriend’s mobile phone between March and August.
On March 25 Simona texted his girlfriend a number of times: “Can you create a account for sports bet so I can bet on the footy under your name cause I can’t lol.
“Whatever I use from your card I’ll pay you in cash. That sounds better, right?
They knew they were in dangerous territory.
Simona: “Imagine the coppers tracking what we say.”
Girlfriend: “I swear I was thinking that.”
Simona: “It’s a $30k fine and my career gone. It’s your account to I think I’m safe.”
At first the Wests Tigers centre had to instruct Jaya Taki on how to use the betting account.
“You’ll figure it out. Just find NRL head to head/Tigers v Parra/ first tryscorer, think I’m paying 18 bucks.”
By midway through the season he was using the account log on himself and placing the bets via his mobile phone.
There was serious concern about his text messages before the Wests Tigers played the Panthers on July 2. They discuss backing Wests Tigers winger Jordan Rankin.
Simona says: “His my winger — I’ll pass him the ball to score.”
Despite the damaging text messages, Simona insists throughout the interview he was playing to win every week. That once he ran onto the field, the gambling had no effect or on his performance.
Certainly videos The Sunday Telegraph and integrity unit have watched give no hint that he did anything unusual on the field to suit his betting patterns.
“I’m just embarrassed and ashamed,” he said.
“It was so dumb and so stupid. Importantly the players know I’d never be involved in match-fixing.
“They’ve all been texting me since it happened.
“They know what I did was wrong but they understand I always gave 100 per cent.”
THE BETS SIMONA PLACED
Grouped bets in the table below indicate wagers that were tied together in multis:
BET ODDS RESULT MATCH MARKET SELECTION/WIN-LOSS (W-L)
$10 61 LOSS Tigers v Eels First tryscorer Sauaso Sue (L)
$20 18 LOSS Tigers v Eels First tryscorer Tim Simona (L)
$20 18 LOSS Tigers v Sharks First tryscorer Tim Simona (L)
$30 17 LOSS Titans v Dragons First goal scorecast Anthony Don (L)
$30 17 LOSS Titans v Dragons First goal scorecast Titans 1 to 12 (L)
$20 17 LOSS Bulldogs v Warriors First goal scorecast Curtis Rona (L)
$20 17 LOSS Bulldogs v Warriors First goal scorecast Bulldogs 1 to 12 (L)
$10 29 LOSS Tigers v Storm First goal scorecast James Tedesco (L)
$10 29 LOSS Tigers v Storm First goal scorecast Storm 1 to 12 (L)
$20 20 LOSS Rabbitohs v Tigers First tryscorer Tim Simona (L)
$50 18 LOSS Tigers v Bulldogs First tryscorer Tim Simona (L)
$10 31 LOSS Storm v Tigers Score 2 or more tries in 80min Tim Simona (L)
$5 26 LOSS Storm v Tigers First tryscorer Tim Simona (L)
$30 31 LOSS Storm v Tigers Score 2 or more tries in 80min Tim Simona (L)
$20 26 LOSS Storm v Tigers First tryscorer Tim Simona (L)
$10 29 LOSS Tigers v Panthers First goal scorecast James Tedesco (L)
$10 29 LOSS Tigers v Panthers First goal scorecast Panthers 1 to 12 (L)
$10 26 LOSS Tigers v Panthers Will there be extra time? Yes (L)
$10 46 LOSS Tigers v Panthers First goal scorecast Tim Simona (P)
$10 46 LOSS Tigers v Panthers First goal scorecast Tigers 1 to 12 (W)
$10 18 WIN Tigers v Panthers Score 2 or more tries in 80min Tim Simona (W)
$10 14 LOSS Tigers v Panthers Last tryscorer Jordan Rankin (L)
$10 14 LOSS Tigers v Panthers Last tryscorer David Nofoaluma (L)
$10 61 LOSS Sea Eagles v Dragons First goal scorecast Jorge Taufua (P)
$10 61 LOSS Sea Eagles v Dragons First goal scorecast Dragons 13+ (L)
$5 36 LOSS Eels v Roosters First goal scorecast Clint Gutherson (L)
$5 36 LOSS Eels v Roosters First goal scorecast Eels 1 to 12 (W)
$10 51 LOSS Eels v Roosters First goal scorecast Shaun Kenny-Dowall (L)
$10 51 LOSS Eels v Roosters First goal scorecast Eels 13+ (L)
$10 26 LOSS Eels v Roosters First tryscorer Corey Norman (L)
$10 71 LOSS Eels v Roosters First goal scorecast Dale Copley (L)
$10 71 LOSS Eels v Roosters First goal scorecast Eels 1 to 12 (W)
$10 41 LOSS Bulldogs v Tigers Score 2 or more tries in 80min Sam Kasiano (L)
$10 86 LOSS Bulldogs v Tigers First goal scorecast Josh Addo-Carr (P)
$10 86 LOSS Bulldogs v Tigers First goal scorecast Tigers 13+ (L)
$10 76 LOSS Bulldogs v Tigers First goal scorecast Tim Simona (L)
$10 76 LOSS Bulldogs v Tigers First goal scorecast Bulldogs 1 to 12 (W)
$5 91 LOSS Bulldogs v Tigers Score 3 or more tries in 80min Tim Simona (L)
$5 18 LOSS Bulldogs v Tigers First tryscorer Tim Simona (L)
$10 36 LOSS Dragons v Titans First goal scorecast Jason Nightingale (L)
$10 36 LOSS Dragons v Titans First goal scorecast Titans 1 to 12 (L)
$10 15 LOSS Broncos v Panthers Win try combo Latu to score try & Broncos win (L)
$10 9 LOSS Broncos v Panthers First goal scorecast Corey Oates (L)
$10 9 LOSS Broncos v Panthers First goal scorecast Broncos 13+ (L)
$20 36 LOSS Broncos v Panthers First goal scorecast Josh Mansour (L)
$20 36 LOSS Broncos v Panthers First goal scorecast Broncos 13+ (L)
$20 36 LOSS Broncos v Panthers First goal scorecast Dallin Watene-Zelezniak (L)
$20 36 LOSS Broncos v Panthers First goal scorecast Broncos 13+ (L)
$10 131 LOSS Dragons v Tigers First goal scorecast Benji Matshall (L)
$10 131 LOSS Dragons v Tigers First goal scorecast Tigers 13+ (W)
$10 66 LOSS Dragons v Tigers First goal scorecast Adam Quinlan (L)
$10 66 LOSS Dragons v Tigers First goal scorecast Tigers 13+ (W)
$10 26 LOSS Sharks v Knights First goal scorecast Nathan Ross (L)
$10 26 LOSS Sharks v Knights First goal scorecast Sharks 13+ (W)
$10 23 LOSS Raiders v Warriors First tryscorer Josh Papalii (L)
$20 36 LOSS Dragons v Tigers First goal scorecast Kevin Naiqama (L)
$20 36 LOSS Dragons v Tigers First goal scorecast Tigers 1 to 12 (L)
$30 19 LOSS Roosters v Broncos Win first try combo Tupou to score 1st try, Broncos win (L)
$20 31 LOSS Roosters v Broncos First goal scorecast Corey Oates
$20 31 LOSS Roosters v Broncos First goal scorecast Roosters 1 to 12 (L)
$30 8.5 LOSS Roosters v Broncos Win try combo Cordner to score try, Broncos win (L)
$10 76 LOSS Roosters v Broncos First goal scorecast Jake Friend (L)
$10 76 LOSS Roosters v Broncos First goal scorecast Roosters 1 to 12 (L)
$10 71 LOSS Roosters v Broncos First goal scorecast Ben Hunt (L)
$10 71 LOSS Roosters v Broncos First goal scorecast Broncos 13+ (L)
bluetige- Posts : 2235
Reputation : 749
Join date : 2015-12-13
Part 4 of 5 is here and is a transcript of the texts between him and Ms Taki
Transcripts
Part 5 of 5 is here
The health therapist is the other person at the centre of the Simona scandal — and when she briefly posted an angry message to Simona on Facebook in August 2016 it triggered a chain of events that led to him being kicked out of the NRL.
“So here I go again, having to teach you a lesson!! simona if you ever f*** with me this is what happens. Betting on your own games, cocaine, abortions and cheating! I’ve had enough of this sh**.”
She took the message down after a matter of minutes but it was long enough for someone to screen shot it and send it to Wests Tigers officials, who then alerted the NRL.
The post started an investigation that stalled when Simona lied to investigators and Ms Taki refused to co-operate. But as their relationship fell apart towards the end of 2016 she resumed contact with the NRL and she handed over her mobile phone, which included detailed and damning messages about Simona’s sins.
Ms Taki says she talked to the NRL about the footballer’s gambling because she felt threatened by him and was devastated by an abortion he “bullied” her into.
She says she was grieving after the abortion, felt abandoned by him and the NRL and she wanted to hurt him.
“I never had the intention to ruin his career, (but) of course I wanted to hurt him,” she says.
“My main point by speaking out is not to bring down Tim but to speak out about the treatment of women and urge the footballers to take more responsibility when it comes to abortion.”
Ms Taki says she contacted the NRL integrity unit several times in 2016 but felt she had not been properly sup-ported. The NRL has strongly denied her allegation, claiming it made several attempts to address all of Ms Taki’s concerns.
The Sunday Telegraph has seen extracts of text messages between Ms Taki and integrity unit boss Karyn Murphy highlighting the significant level of support provided to Simona’s ex-partner.
Ms Taki says that at a February 15 meeting with Ms Murphy, an IT professional took her phone and took thousands of WhatsApp messages between her and Simona, including personal videos and photographs.
Ms Taki says friends of Simona harassed and threatened her on social media, including death threats on Facebook after the NRL meeting.
She says she has shared her “traumatic experience” in the hope the NRL will implement a more stringent policy to punish footballers who mistreat women.
“I want people to be aware of this disposable attitude to women and their babies,” she says.
Ms Taki says she approached police after a threat from Sim-ona on Wednesday, February 15 but she ultimately declined to push ahead with charges because she didn’t want it to get into the media.
In one text message exchange in which she asks him not to lie about their situation, he says: “If you tell me I’m lying again I will f*** you up next time I see you c***. I know where you live c***.”
In February an angry Ms Taki sent a message to Ms Murphy: “How is it that he threatened me but you never did a thing about it but the moment he puts 10 dollar bets on you deregister him from the NRL? That’s a slap in my face.”
Ms Murphy responded by asking Ms Taki if she wanted to call or meet to talk her through the “processes” and reinforced that the NRL took threats against women “seriously”.
Ms Taki says the experience has left her feeling “discarded” and an emot-ional wreck. She says her mental health suffered as she is still dealing with the abortion she had on April 15, 2016.
Simona pleaded with her to abort their child as it would “ruin his life” and, in turn, his footy career.
Ms Taki said in the days after she told Simona she was pregnant in March 2016, he told her: “You would only keep this baby to trap me and keep me around.”
Simona has confirmed he wanted Ms Taki to have an abortion and that he wouldn’t support her if she had the baby.
She says he refused to talk to her about the pregnancy and around the same time he was suspended for three weeks.
“He would only talk about how his world was falling down because of the suspension,” she says.
“The only time he would talk to me about the abortion was when I was supplying dates for a possible abortion.
“He said to me, ‘I know you will do what I say. I know I am going to get my way’. I was mentally controlled by him.
“I begged him to consider having this baby. But then I gave up.”
She describes laying in a doctor’s surgery when the abortion was about to commence, wishing she could run away. “I remember thinking, please, please, please I want to leave … I wanted to get off the table.
“I wanted to get out of there but I was too scared about what Tim would do. That was it. That was the final decision. It was done.”
After the abortion she said their once peaceful and “amazing” relationship dissolved.
Ms Taki says she was so desperate to win his affection she agreed to go along with his dodgy charity auctions but maintains she deposited her half of the money into her now deceased brother’s charity.
She claims she also created a Sportsbet account at his request and proceeded to bet on his behalf.
When they fought, she would threaten to go to the NRL and detail his gambling on games.
Ms Taki says it was disappointing the gambling and not her alleged mistreatment became the focus of the investigation.
“Until I brought forth the gambling stuff he was threatening me without anyone as so much calling the Wests Tigers and saying, ‘Hey this guy is threatening a woman’. Nothing was done. What had to be done? Did he have to come through with the threats?”
What did make her feel better is counselling from Sara’s Place, an organisation in Surry Hills which helps women through the emotional trauma of abortion.
“They have been amazing,” she says.
A spokesman for the NRL said: “This was a sensitive and very challenging set of circumstances. We are extremely comfortable with how it was handled by the integrity unit.”
Transcripts
Part 5 of 5 is here
The health therapist is the other person at the centre of the Simona scandal — and when she briefly posted an angry message to Simona on Facebook in August 2016 it triggered a chain of events that led to him being kicked out of the NRL.
“So here I go again, having to teach you a lesson!! simona if you ever f*** with me this is what happens. Betting on your own games, cocaine, abortions and cheating! I’ve had enough of this sh**.”
She took the message down after a matter of minutes but it was long enough for someone to screen shot it and send it to Wests Tigers officials, who then alerted the NRL.
The post started an investigation that stalled when Simona lied to investigators and Ms Taki refused to co-operate. But as their relationship fell apart towards the end of 2016 she resumed contact with the NRL and she handed over her mobile phone, which included detailed and damning messages about Simona’s sins.
Ms Taki says she talked to the NRL about the footballer’s gambling because she felt threatened by him and was devastated by an abortion he “bullied” her into.
She says she was grieving after the abortion, felt abandoned by him and the NRL and she wanted to hurt him.
“I never had the intention to ruin his career, (but) of course I wanted to hurt him,” she says.
“My main point by speaking out is not to bring down Tim but to speak out about the treatment of women and urge the footballers to take more responsibility when it comes to abortion.”
Ms Taki says she contacted the NRL integrity unit several times in 2016 but felt she had not been properly sup-ported. The NRL has strongly denied her allegation, claiming it made several attempts to address all of Ms Taki’s concerns.
The Sunday Telegraph has seen extracts of text messages between Ms Taki and integrity unit boss Karyn Murphy highlighting the significant level of support provided to Simona’s ex-partner.
Ms Taki says that at a February 15 meeting with Ms Murphy, an IT professional took her phone and took thousands of WhatsApp messages between her and Simona, including personal videos and photographs.
Ms Taki says friends of Simona harassed and threatened her on social media, including death threats on Facebook after the NRL meeting.
She says she has shared her “traumatic experience” in the hope the NRL will implement a more stringent policy to punish footballers who mistreat women.
“I want people to be aware of this disposable attitude to women and their babies,” she says.
Ms Taki says she approached police after a threat from Sim-ona on Wednesday, February 15 but she ultimately declined to push ahead with charges because she didn’t want it to get into the media.
In one text message exchange in which she asks him not to lie about their situation, he says: “If you tell me I’m lying again I will f*** you up next time I see you c***. I know where you live c***.”
In February an angry Ms Taki sent a message to Ms Murphy: “How is it that he threatened me but you never did a thing about it but the moment he puts 10 dollar bets on you deregister him from the NRL? That’s a slap in my face.”
Ms Murphy responded by asking Ms Taki if she wanted to call or meet to talk her through the “processes” and reinforced that the NRL took threats against women “seriously”.
Ms Taki says the experience has left her feeling “discarded” and an emot-ional wreck. She says her mental health suffered as she is still dealing with the abortion she had on April 15, 2016.
Simona pleaded with her to abort their child as it would “ruin his life” and, in turn, his footy career.
Ms Taki said in the days after she told Simona she was pregnant in March 2016, he told her: “You would only keep this baby to trap me and keep me around.”
Simona has confirmed he wanted Ms Taki to have an abortion and that he wouldn’t support her if she had the baby.
She says he refused to talk to her about the pregnancy and around the same time he was suspended for three weeks.
“He would only talk about how his world was falling down because of the suspension,” she says.
“The only time he would talk to me about the abortion was when I was supplying dates for a possible abortion.
“He said to me, ‘I know you will do what I say. I know I am going to get my way’. I was mentally controlled by him.
“I begged him to consider having this baby. But then I gave up.”
She describes laying in a doctor’s surgery when the abortion was about to commence, wishing she could run away. “I remember thinking, please, please, please I want to leave … I wanted to get off the table.
“I wanted to get out of there but I was too scared about what Tim would do. That was it. That was the final decision. It was done.”
After the abortion she said their once peaceful and “amazing” relationship dissolved.
Ms Taki says she was so desperate to win his affection she agreed to go along with his dodgy charity auctions but maintains she deposited her half of the money into her now deceased brother’s charity.
She claims she also created a Sportsbet account at his request and proceeded to bet on his behalf.
When they fought, she would threaten to go to the NRL and detail his gambling on games.
Ms Taki says it was disappointing the gambling and not her alleged mistreatment became the focus of the investigation.
“Until I brought forth the gambling stuff he was threatening me without anyone as so much calling the Wests Tigers and saying, ‘Hey this guy is threatening a woman’. Nothing was done. What had to be done? Did he have to come through with the threats?”
What did make her feel better is counselling from Sara’s Place, an organisation in Surry Hills which helps women through the emotional trauma of abortion.
“They have been amazing,” she says.
A spokesman for the NRL said: “This was a sensitive and very challenging set of circumstances. We are extremely comfortable with how it was handled by the integrity unit.”
Revraiser- Fanatic
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Cheers Bluey, very interesting read.
standard-issue- Moderator
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Yeah, cheers for posting.
Any inkling of what he got paid to give the exclusive to Rothfield?
Any inkling of what he got paid to give the exclusive to Rothfield?
No Worries- Moderator
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I don't know why but I feel sorry for this guy. He has done the lowest of the low, ripped off mates, charities and cheated. Sure there is education, the clubs do it to tick a box. League players are a portion of society and we should expect that the troubles affecting society should appear in our game. I want to give him a hug and tell him there is a light at the end of the tunnel. He knows how bad he's fucked up, he doesn't need to be told again.
May be I don't feel sorry. May be it's admiration that drives my support because when he's back was against the wall he was honest and didn't use his mate as a scapegoat or pay off a night club.
May be I don't feel sorry. May be it's admiration that drives my support because when he's back was against the wall he was honest and didn't use his mate as a scapegoat or pay off a night club.
No Worries- Moderator
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JASON Taylor is expected to be sacked as Wests Tigers coach within 24 hours.
The Daily Telegraph understands the board members have made the decision to move in another direction after Sunday’s thumping 46-6 loss to the Canberra Raiders.
It had also become clear superstar fullback James Tedesco, skipper Aaron Woods, five-eighth Mitchell Moses and halfback Luke Brooks were not prepared to sign new contracts while Taylor was the NRL head coach.
All have hesitated in recent negotiations because of the uncertainty over the coaching position.
The players do not dislike Taylor but feel they need new direction to become better players and win a premiership at the Wests Tigers.
It is uncertain if Taylor will go immediately or stay for the remainder of the season when his contract is up.
Cowboys assistant coach Todd Payten or former Warriors and Panthers coach Ivan Cleary would presumably be ready to start immediately.
The Wests Tigers are expected to make the announcement on Taylor tomorrow.
Milchcow- Moderator
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Please be Cleary
Milchcow- Moderator
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But more seriously, what a stupid idea.
Its like us fantasy coaches wanting to trade out half our squad after 1 bad game. If the Tigers were willing to back Taylor all throughout pre-season, 2 bad results should not change that belief.
if they wanted him gone they should have done it months ago, and if they want to keep him they need to give him more than 3 weeks.
Honeysett- Moderator
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Absolutely. I believe it's the fact that the little 4 aren't signing their contracts that's causing the issue.