Phil Rothfield: NRL star Tim Simona is disgusting but still likeable

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, writes PHIL ROTHFIELD.

• CHAPTER 1: Simona: Sex, drugs and my downfall

• CHAPTER 2: I ripped off charities for gambling, drugs

• CHAPTER 3: ‘Get my boobs done’ or I’ll tell NRL

• CHAPTER 4: Confession and the explosive texts

• CHAPTER 5: The ex: ‘I felt rejected, betrayed’

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.

Disgraced NRL player Tim Simona pictured back living at home with his parents in Macquarie Fields. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

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 of her child. Not nice, but at least honest.

The NRL has terminated the registration of Wests Tigers player Tim Simona over various betting scandals.

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.

Tim Simona with his parents Pele (left) and Ene Simona following his ban from the NRL. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

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.