Tim Simona plays his first game of rugby league in three years following gambling scandal

Three years after he was deregistered indefinitely due to betting on matches, Tim Simona has made his rugby league return for Blacktown in NSW Cup.

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Controversial former Wests Tigers centre Tim Simona made his rugby league return yesterday, three years after being deregistered from the NRL for placing bets during the season.

Simona lined up for Blacktown Workers Sea Eagles in their Canterbury Cup win over the South Sydney Rabbitohs at ANZ Stadium.

Simona hasn’t played since 2016 after he was deregistered. He also received an 18-month good behaviour bond for selling jerseys without passing on the full sums to nominated charities.

While he wasn’t originally named, Simona played on the right edge after the NSWRL approved his return.

Simona last played in 2016. AAP Image/Dan Himbrechts.

Blacktown’s Tony Williams said Simona’s mistakes were in the past.

“He doesn’t have to apologise,” Williams said.

“He did what he did and it’s finished now. We can’t look back at what he did, it’s what he does from now and that’s how I look at it.

“I’ve done a lot of mistakes in my career and it’s about what you do from now on — that’s how I look at it.”

In 2017, NRL CEO Todd Greenberg said “based on the evidence we have identified, it is very hard to imagine that Tim Simona will be registered with the NRL at any time in the future”.

However, Williams says he’d be happy to see the former Samoan international afforded a second chance.

Could Simona make it back to the NRL. Photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images.

“We’ve done it all our lives and that’s what we know. Full credit to him - he’s chipped away and he’s back,” Williams said.

“People can judge him on whatever he’s done in the past, but he’s a good kid. Until you know him, he’s a good kid and I was very proud to see him get back out there.

“He could have easily given it away but he’s back and who knows what could happen in the next half a year. Hopefully he gets to where he wants to get and I’ll be happy for him.”