NRL: Ayoub free to continue in his role

Sam Ayoub is the manager for North Queensland halfback Johnathon Thurston and Wests Tigers' skipper Robbie Farah. Photo / Getty Images

Sam Ayoub is free to continue his role as an NRL player agent until a court decision is reached on the charges made against him.

Ayoub, who manages some of the NRL's highest profile players including North Queensland halfback Johnathon Thurston and Wests Tigers' skipper Robbie Farah, was charged by police with attempting to obtain financial advantage by deception on Thursday.

Detectives from the NSW Crime Command's Casino and Racing Investigation Unit have been examining suspicious betting on an NRL clash between the Bulldogs and North Queensland last year.

After the Rugby League Accredited Player Agent Scheme (RLAPAS) committee held an urgent telephone hook-up yesterday, it was announced Ayoub's immediate future in rugby league is not in doubt.

The committee did say it views the charges very seriously and said if the charges laid against Ayoub are proven, that his ongoing accreditation would be reviewed.

"The rules under which the committee operates do confer a power to suspend, or cancel, an agent's accreditation," committee chairman Geoff Bellew SC said in a statement.

"And if an allegation that an accredited agent had obtained a financial advantage by deception were proven, it would obviously be a matter in respect of which the committee would call upon the agent to show cause why some action should not be taken in respect of his or her accreditation."

Bellew stressed the RLAPAS would stand by Ayoub as he fights to clear his nam.

"The allegation against Mr Ayoub, at least at this stage, is just that - an allegation," Bellew continued.

"Moreover, the committee was informed that Mr Ayoub proposes to defend that allegation by entering a plea of not guilty.

"As is the case with each and every person who is charged with a criminal offence, Mr Ayoub is entitled to the benefit of a presumption of innocence.

"It is important, in those circumstances, to respect the legal process and to allow it to take its course. That is what the committee thought was appropriate in this instance.

"If, after that process is completed, Mr Ayoub is found guilty of any offence, the question of whether he should be called upon to show cause why action should not be taken in respect of his accreditation will obviously be revisited."

- AAP