NRL: League manager arrested in betting scam - report

Ryan Tandy. Photo / Getty Images

Two men have been arrested in Sydney today over betting allegations in the NRL, one believed to be a popular player-manager.

Police arrested a 48-year-old and a 49-year-old this morning. Charges are expected to be laid against both men.

The Sydney Morning Herald reports that league player-manager Sam Ayoub is one of the men.

The paper reports Ayoub was arrested by detectives from the Casino and Racing Investigation Unit after he went to Campsie police station in Sydney.

Ayoub is the manager for North Queensland Cowboys star Johnathan Thurston and also Canterbury Bulldogs prop Ryan Tandy who earlier pleaded not guilty to a charge of providing false evidence about an alleged NRL betting scam.

29-year-old Tandy appeared in Sydney's Downing Centre Local Court today accused of lying to an investigation by the NSW Crime Command's Racing and Casino Investigation Unit.

The unit has been examining suspicious betting on an NRL clash between the Bulldogs and Cowboys last year.

The incident 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 did not opt for a kick at goal, but chose to take a quick tap and scored a try out wide.

After he pleaded not guilty on Thursday, Tandy's bail was continued and the case was adjourned to April 7.

- AAP/Herald online