Tinkler in strife for footy bet

Former mining magnate Nathan tinkler arrives at the NSW Supreme Court. Source: Sam Mooy / News Limited

NEWCASTLE Knights' high-profile owner Nathan Tinkler is under investigation by rugby league's integrity unit after allegedly breaking strict NRL rules by betting on his side during 2011.

The Daily Telegraph has been told the ex-billionaire - or the Newcastle club - could face severe punishment, ranging from a heavy fine to a suspended licence.

NRL rules strictly prohibit any club official betting on rugby league.

According to a claim made by Luxbet in the Northern Territory Supreme Court in January, Tinkler plunged $25,000 on Newcastle in a match against New Zealand Warriors at Mount Smart Stadium on August 13, 2011.

He acquired the Knights on March 31 the same year.

After leading early, Newcastle eventually lost that game 20-12, Tinkler blowing his cash.

Coach Wayne Bennett's future at the club would be in some jeopardy should Tinkler's licence be suspended. Bennett's deal is understood to be with Tinkler, not the Knights.

The NRL on Tuesday night confirmed Tinkler was now under investigation.

"It's a matter the integrity unit is making some inquiries into," NRL chief operating officer Jim Doyle said.

"The NRL rules prevent any official from betting on rugby league. That includes anyone with a financial interest in the club. At this stage it's too early to comment beyond that."

A Newcastle spokesman declined to comment Tuesday night.

There is some chance the NRL may seek Tinkler's punting records from betting agencies to determine if wagers have been placed.

One rival NRL official was shocked to hear about Tinkler's alleged bet on Newcastle.

"He knows the rules, everyone in the game knows the rules," he said.

"The code of conduct is black and white - no betting on the games. The NRL will have no choice but to come down hard on him."

Sources told The Daily Telegraph Tuesday night that the Newcastle club may in fact face a breach notice if rules have been broken, not Tinkler personally.

The Daily Telegraph reported Tuesday that Tinkler's failure to pay debts prompted Luxbet to sue him in the Northern Territory Supreme Court in January, chasing $179,200.

Court documents obtained by The Daily Telegraph reveal Tinkler, the embattled businessman, was outlaying up to $200,000 a bet on horse races during a three-year spree.

He found few winners.

In April this year, Bennett said Tinkler was committed to the Knights despite his owner offloading the Patinack Farm horse racing operation.

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Dark horse emerges in Cowboys race

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Andrew Dunemann, head assistant coach at the Canberra Raiders at Raiders Headquarters in Canberra. Source: kym smith / News Limited

ANDREW Dunemann has emerged as a shock frontrunner for the Cowboys job as North Queensland hierarchy prepare to ramp up their search for Neil Henry's coaching successor.

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The former Cowboys playmaker has been omitted from several betting markets, with Kevin Walters, Paul Green and Trent Barrett considered favourites to lead North Queensland in 2014.

But The Courier-Mail can reveal Dunemann, currently David Furner's assistant at Canberra, is the dark horse.

It is understood the Cowboys board has identified Dunemann as a serious contender and the 37-year-old will formalise his interest by submitting his CV.

"I will be applying for the Cowboys job, yes," said Dunemann, who played 51 NRL games for the Cowboys between 1996-98.

"I've been to a lot of clubs but I have always regarded the Cowboys as my club.

"I played there and then coached their feeder team (Northern Pride) for a few years. I spent five or six years of my life up there.

"My wife is from up there, I have a lot of good friends in north Queensland so it's the place I call home.

"The Cowboys tick every box and I know a bit about the club, so it's the one job I've always wanted."

Dunemann's manager Jim Banaghan added Tuesday night: "He's the Queensland version of Trent Robinson (Roosters coach). Andrew is young, hard-working and a terrific fit for the Cowboys."

The seven-strong board will closely scrutinise the claims of Green, but there is a sentiment the former Maroons halfback may need more time as an assistant.

And while Dunemann lacks the profile of Broncos great Walters, his work ethic and man-management ability have piqued the interest of Cowboys powerbrokers.

Dunemann enjoyed a 13-year playing career between 1994-2007, amassing 251 games at seven clubs - Gold Coast, North Queensland, Souths, Halifax, Leeds, Salford and Canberra.

But his slick transition to coaching has been noted.

At age 33, he steered the Pride to their maiden grand final appearance in 2009.

He then had two years as an assistant to Newcastle's Rick Stone before shifting to Canberra, where he coached the Raiders' under-20s to last year's grand final.

"He's a remarkable young bloke and destined to go to the top," former Cowboys boss Denis Keeffe said.

"He is ambitious and a terrific man-manager. Having played and coached up here, he gets regional Queensland."

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Dogs get Stadium punt for the AFL

Sky-high view of ANZ Stadium. Source: Braden Fastier / News Limited

RUGBY league used to be the game that ruled Sydney. Not anymore.

In a major embarrassment, the NRL backed down to the AFL over a scheduling stuff-up at ANZ Stadium that could cost the Bulldogs their last home game of the year.

As of Tuesday night the NRL still didn't have a venue or date for the crucial round 25 clash between the Bulldogs and Penrith that was going to be played on Friday, August 30.

The AFL Swans-Hawthorn final round blockbuster will take priority on that Friday night.

Red-faced NRL officials were scrambling to try to limit the damage this has done to the NRL's credibility.

The NRL is considering moving the game to a different venue or playing it on a different night, with some suggesting it could be played on the Thursday night.

The fact the Bulldogs have to back up the following Thursday night in Brisbane means the game has to be played by Saturday at the latest.

The other factor the NRL must consider is Channel 9 must televise two Friday night games.

This has the potential to force a complete reshuffle of all final round NRL games that will decide the top eight.

The Bulldogs would be reluctant to lose their last home game, given they could be fighting for a top-four finish.

The NRL's director of marketing and commercial Paul Kind on Tuesday night could give no indication when the game would be played.

"We are uncertain at this point," Kind said.

"We are looking at what options are available and working with the Stadium and the Dogs on solutions."

Asked why the NRL backed down to AFL, Kind could not offer a clear reason.

"Not because we made the mistake." he said.

"You can simplify it if you need to but where we are is we thought we were in a position to lock that match in for the Friday night and in the end the AFL has been granted that spot by the Stadium."

Asked if it was the Stadium's fault, Kind said: "It was the Stadium's decision.

"At a point not long ago all parties thought they had it solved. In the end it ended up both parties were looking at Friday night. At one point we thought it was Saturday night."

But it is understood the NRL should have been fully aware of this potential scheduling disaster all year.

The AFL only schedules three games a season at ANZ and it is understood the Swans and Hawthorn game was pencilled in to be played on either the Friday or Saturday night.

All parties were aware the Swans game would take priority.

An AFL spokesman said they had been assured by officials they could have the night for some time. But that didn't stop the NRL selecting the Bulldogs-Panthers game on the Friday night regardless.

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We're hungry for victory: Clarke

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Belief ... Michael Clarke says his team can beat England at Old Trafford. Source: Chris Brunskill / Getty Images

THE most significant thing about history is you can't change it. Great lessons can be learnt from what goes before to make for better planning and preparation and that is how we are looking at the third Test in Manchester.

No one is more disappointed than we are about the way we performed during the second Test at Lords but we have left that behind us.

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As a sportsman you simply can't afford to dwell on the past whether it's been good or bad.

People ask me about Test matches or innings that I have played and I can't give them much of an answer.

You're always looking forward, planning and preparing for the next match or series.

If you stop to dwell on the past the game will pass you by. Looking back is something you do when you retire and I have no intention of retiring any time soon.

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We know the passion of Australia's many cricket fans both at home and over in England supporting us. We value that support and are determined to play our best cricket at Old Trafford.

England were the better team at Lord's but we know we can beat them.

This is not some sort of hollow boast. We almost won the first Test at Trent Bridge little more than a fortnight ago. Big results can turn on little moments.

We have shown enough on this tour individually to know that if we put our performances together as a unit we are a very competitive side.

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Everyone in the top seven has scored a half-century in the first two Tests and our bowling has been generally strong.

Our recent three-day match against Sussex at Hove produced some more good batting while the bowlers who did not play at Lords got some much-needed overs under their belts. 

Those of us who missed the game at Hove have been working hard with our preparation. That's the way it is on a cricket tour, you're playing, travelling or preparing to play. It's not a holiday and nor should it be. 

There has been recent conjecture about my back and the answer is always the same. I do regular maintenance to ensure I'm right to play. 

I didn't play the tour game because I needed to lighten the load a little after two Tests in as many weeks but things are no different to how they have been during most of my 90-odd Tests.

England have brought Monty Panesar into their 14-man squad as a second spinner, reinforcing the belief that Old Trafford can help the spinners.However there has already been help for the spinners from the dry pitches we have played on in the first two Tests and I don't expect the conditions in Manchester to be that much different. 

They are generally good conditions for batting in the first innings and that is where we really have to cash in. 

A good first innings allows you to control the game and gives your bowlers the chance to be more attacking, knowing there is a good buffer of runs. 

There are three Tests left and we always turn up to a game believing we can win. 

Let's see what sort of history we can create over the next few weeks. 

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Broncs confident of snaring Milford

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Canberra Raiders livewire Anthony Milford. Source: Kym Smith / News Limited

THE Canberra Raiders are digging their heels in over star rookie Anthony Milford but the fight is far from over with the Broncos still favoured to sign him, although they may have to wait until 2015.

The Raiders delivered a public relations campaign for Milford on Tuesday with the 19-year-old telling media he would stay in Canberra "as far as I know".

However, Raiders chief executive Don Furner conceded his club would be competing against very large offers for Milford's services from 2015 and beyond.

The complicated anti-tampering rules for NRL players means Milford and his management can only start negotiating with rival clubs in November, 12 months before his Raiders contract ends.

It is understood the Broncos would only make contact with him at that time and Milford's homesickness could yet persuade him to demand a release from the remaining year of his contract during the summer.

The Raiders held crisis talks with Milford this week after News Corp revealed Brisbane could snare the homesick teenager for 2014.

Milford's father is ill and he is conflicted between returning home to be with him and honouring the Raiders, who put him on scholarship at age 12.

"I'm contracted until next year ... I don't know what's further on," he said.

"As far as I know that's the way it is going. I was a bit surprised the way it came out.

"My first priority is to play well for the Raiders and I want to let everything else take care of itself."

The fleet-footed fullback said he was settled in Canberra thanks to the help of Josh Papalii's family, with whom he now lives.

"The past year I have been here I have found a strong bond with Papa's family and I have built that up to make it my own," he said.

"You are always going to miss your family. There's always times where I'm trying to call back home and see how they are.

"I'm on the phone to them every day which helps."

The Raiders are confident of keeping Milford next season but Furner conceded 2015 was an entirely different battle.

"He's going to receive a lot of attention when he's off contract and if a club throws a bucket-load of cash at him then that's something we will have to contend with," Furner told The Courier-Mail.

"Anthony is a player we see as a key part of our team. We want him to stay and will be doing all we can to keep him here.

"We will not release Anthony Milford for next year but he's off contract for 2015.

"Naturally for a player of his talent he will be getting attention for 2015."

The Raiders will have significant salary cap space to extend Milford after losing Josh Dugan, Joel Thompson and Sam Williams from their 2014 roster.

Furner said he was confident the ex-Inala and Ipswich student wanted to wear green in 2014.

He acknowledged he had a get out clause to return to a Queensland club but said it could only be activated through mutual agreement.

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Stoner will return: Gardner

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Return? ... Casey Stoner quit MotoGP in 2012. Source: Chris Scott / News Limited

WAYNE Gardner believes fellow former world champion Casey Stoner will return to MotoGP racing, saying the novelty of driving a V8 Supercar had already worn off for the two-wheel ace.

Stoner will jump back on a bike this week for a two-day test in Japan with Honda, barely nine months since quitting the sport.

He is slated for another two sessions in August to ride a prototype of Honda's 2014 model.

Gardner said the 27-year-old's reunion with his former MotoGP team is likely to reignite his passion for grand prix competition.

"If the tests go well and if the lap times are there, and if he's developing the bike with Honda, I think they'll probably say `why don't you go and do a race or two?''' Gardner said, despite Honda already ruling out a wild card race for Stoner in 2013.

"In most cases for people who retire and then come back, it turns into a disaster. The difference is that Casey is obviously an exceptional talent (and) he's still relatively young.

"He's still got time, and I don't doubt his ability. I think he can come back I don't think he's lost it overnight.''

Like Stoner, Gardner switched from two to four wheels in the Australian Touring Car and V8 Supercars championships - five years after winning the 1987 500cc motorcycle world championship.

The 53-year-old said he was surprised Stoner decided to test a MotoGP bike so soon into his retirement and with three rounds still to go in his maiden season in the V8 Supercars second-tier series.

"I think Casey was excited to jump into a V8 initially, but I think the novelty has worn off and the results haven't been there, so he's looking for that adrenaline rush again,'' he said.

"I didn't expect he'd want to get back on the bike again, (but) I think he did the V8s as a replacement for a MotoGP bike. I can say, and I'm well experienced in that area, it will never replace the excitement.

"When I drove touring cars it never replaced the thrill of riding a grand prix bike. It's very hard to find anything in the world to replace (that).''

Australian MotoGP organisers on Monday said they hoped to get Stoner down to Phillip Island for this year's event in October after announcing his link-up with Honda.

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