League: Johns brothers in betting controversy

The manager of league stars Matthew and Andrew Johns yesterday denied speculation linking the brothers to a betting plunge by a millionaire horse-owning friend of theirs on Sunday's NRL game between Newcastle and the Warriors, the Australian newspaper reported today.

The sports betting industry was abuzz with rumours yesterday after an estimated $250,000 was allegedly won by Eddie Hayson after the last-placed Warriors upset the top-of-the-table Knights at EnergyAustralia Stadium.

Most bookmakers suspended markets on Friday once it was known that Newcastle captain Andrew Johns could miss the game after straining his neck in the gym on Thursday.

However, the move came too late as several significant bets were laid that afternoon with bookies around Australia for the Warriors to cover the spread of 16.5 points start, the newspaper said.

Hayson owns the racehorse Regreagan in partnership with the Johns brothers and the suggestion yesterday was that news of Andrew's injury was relayed to him before the markets were suspended.

"Matthew Johns has had no contact whatsoever with Mr Hayson for at least two weeks," manager John Fordham was reported as saying yesterday. "The last occasion was to discuss their horse Regreagan, so therefore rumours circulating about contact Matthew Johns and Mr Hayson and Matthew Johns and Andrew Johns had in relation to the Warriors game are totally false."

Fordham also denied the suggestion that Andrew had told Matthew he could be in doubt for the game, given a decision on his fitness was not officially made until after 8am on the morning of the game.

Bookmakers refused to confirm to the Australian whether Hayson had laid any bets with them, but it's possible they may have been made by a commission agent, anyway.

Northern Territory-based betting agency Sportsbet told the paper it had lost $50,000 on the game with the biggest bet being $30,000 on the Warriors with 16.5 points start at $1.90.

Sportingbet's Stuart Springer said he had lost money on the game and one punter had asked after backing the Warriors with 16.5 points start at $1.90 for $15,000 if he could lay them for $40,000.

"For someone to ask for a bet of that size on a Friday when the game's on a Sunday, your ears prick up straight away," Springer was quoted as saying.

Centrebet's Gerard Daffy suspended his market on Friday night after taking $75,000 in bets on the Warriors but claimed to the Australian he had still finished in front.