L-R: Laurie Daley, Matty Johns, Joel Caine and Dean Ritchie (Image: Private Media/Zennie) Last month Crikey brought you a list of many of the AFL media figures who publicly involve themselves in the betting industry, following our Punted series on gambling advertising. With the NRL grand final this Sunday, we’ve turned our attention to the favoured football code north of the Barassi Line . Gambling is now so intrinsically linked with the consumption of rugby league that ahead of this week’s grand final between the Melbourne Storm and Penrith Panthers, three of News Corp’s most senior sports reporters took to social media site X within three minutes of each other to reveal urgent breaking news : wagering giant Tabcorp had released odds for the big game.
Crikey makes no suggestion there was any commercial imperative for doing so. Penrith, the defending champions, play their home games at BlueBet Stadium, and fellow preliminary finalists Cronulla play at PointsBet Stadium. ‘People will swim through shit for a dollar’: A list of AFL stars and journos on the gambling payroll Read More Crikey has compiled a non-exhaustive list of individuals connected to the NRL — from commentators to former players — who involve themselves publicly with the betting industry.
Some have made appearances in advertisements for betting agencies or participated in sponsored segments, while others are signed as ambassadors, writing tips and featuring in content on social media. Joel Caine F.