NRL betting probe searches for four more

Police are searching for four more people involved in the NRL betting scandal. Photo / Getty Images

The NRL betting scandal that has embroiled Bulldogs player Ryan Tandy and two others has deepened, with police searching for four more people.

The NSW Crime Command's Casino and Racing Investigation Unit are appealing for public assistance to identify four people shown in CCTV footage as part of ongoing investigations.

Strike Force Suburb from the unit was established to investigate alleged illegal betting activity surrounding the NRL match between the Canterbury Bulldogs and the North Queensland Cowboys in August lst year.

On Friday, police launched a public appeal to help identify four people depicted in CCTV footage who attended Sydney betting facilities in Beaconsfield, Ashfield and in the Queensland city of Townsville.

Police are not suggesting the people in the footage have engaged in unlawful activity but believe they may be able to assist detectives.

The investigation focuses an incident relating to the Bulldogs-Cowboys match, which involved a plunge on a betting option that the first points of the game would come from a penalty goal.

Tandy was penalised two minutes into the game for impeding Cowboys playmaker Grant Rovelli in front of the posts.

The Cowboys were awarded a penalty, but did not opt for a kick at goal and instead scored a try from a quick tap.

In Sydney's Downing Centre Local Court on Thursday, Tandy pleaded not guilty to four charges of giving false evidence to police investigating betting on two NRL games - the Cowboys match in August last year and a Bulldogs-Gold Coast match in June last year.

His bail was continued with the case adjourned for mention on April 7, when Tandy will not have to attend the court.

The two men arrested on Thursday have been granted conditional bail by police and are due to appear in the Downing Centre Local Court on April 7.

Police did not name the two men, but media have named them as player agent Sam Ayoub and former first-grade player John Elias.

News Ltd newspapers said both had denied involvement in the alleged betting scandal.

- AAP