Disgraced former NRL player Tim Simona could be offered a lifeline by Penrith Panthers boss Phil Gould
HE was deregistered by the NRL after betting on matches, and defrauded a children’s charity — but Penrith supremo Phil Gould believes former star Tim Simona still has something to offer the game.
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PENRITH general manager Phil Gould has formally approached the NRL integrity unit about giving disgraced former Wests Tigers player Tim Simona a second chance in the game.
Desperate for another opportunity after being found guilty of betting on NRL matches, Simona wants to return as a welfare officer and help others.
Gould believes the Panthers can help in “rehabilitating” the former centre.
“Regardless of any future opportunity to return to the NRL, Tim is doing his best to make up for his mistakes of the past,” Gould said. “He has been quite proactive.
“Tim approached us about allowing him to be involved in our community and schools programs.
“He has been doing community work of his own, but wants to do more. He wants to assist and believes others can learn from his story.”
Gould has also spoken to the Panthers board about supporting Simona.
“Part of this is obviously wanting to prove to the NRL he is worthy of another chance,” Gould said on Tuesday.
“I have spoken to the NRL integrity unit and Panthers board about the possibility of assisting Tim.”
Gould, a stronger believer in redemption, said a final decision would come from the NRL.
“We have the resources and programs to allow Tim to prove himself,” Gould said.
“If the NRL thinks this is a good opportunity to rehabilitate Tim, we can assist.
“Whether he returns to the game is irrelevant at this stage.”
Simona, who played 79 NRL matches at Concord, was deregistered indefinitely by the NRL in March last year after an investigation found him guilty of betting on matches, which included opposition teams and players, while representing Wests Tigers.
He was also placed on an 18-month good behaviour bond after pleading guilty to “dishonestly obtaining property by deception’’.
Simona kept money from the sale of jumpers which had been promised to children’s charity Camp Quality. He then used it to gamble and buy drugs.
At the time, NRL chief executive Todd Greenberg said: “It is very hard to imagine that Tim Simona will be registered with the NRL at any time in the future.”
Gould has no plans to offer Simona a playing contract.
“There is no thought at this stage of Tim joining Panthers as a player,” Gould said.
“But he lives in Western Sydney, he is a former local junior, and we run extensive community programs in our area.
“We sent him to get his Working With Children qualifications, which he achieved last week. We haven’t assigned him any work as yet.”
Simona was immediately remorseful for his actions and told The Sunday Telegraph’s Phil Rothfield: “I’m so ashamed of what I’ve done. It shows how low you’ll go to get money.
“I’m just embarrassed and ashamed. It was so dumb and so stupid.”