Laurie Daley blocked from Manly Sea Eagles job over betting ties

The NRL has blocked Manly’s attempt to employ Laurie Daley as a consultant coach because his radio presenting job has ties to the betting industry.

The Sea Eagles had hoped to add Daley to a new-look brains trust that includes head coach Anthony Seibold, assistants Shane Flanagan and Jim Dymock, transition coach Guy Williams and Andrew May, the former physical performance manager for both the NSW and Australian cricket teams.

Daley is still hoping head office will reconsider its stance and is seeking a meeting with ARLC chairman Peter V’landys and NRL CEO Andrew Abdo to plead his case. The legendary former Canberra playmaker has been allowed to hold the role of the Indigenous All Stars coach up until last year, but NRL rules preclude registered participants from having ties with betting operators at club level.

“The NRL has advised Laurie Daley that he cannot be permitted to accept a role as a club official with the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles while he engages in other employment with a wagering operator,” an NRL spokesperson told the Herald.

“The NRL Code of Conduct prohibits all players, club officials, match officials and administrators from being sponsored, employed, contracted, engaged or otherwise commercially involved in any way with a gambling operator.”

It’s not the first time the NRL has blocked Daley from taking up a club role. The Wests Tigers had tried to recruit Daley to then-coach Michael Maguire’s staff in 2019, only for the head office to determine that his other job, as co-host of Sky Sports Radio’s Big Sports Breakfast, could create a potential conflict of interest.

Sky Sports Radio is owned by Tabcorp and Daley provides rugby league tips on one of the segments.

Meanwhile, Manly powerbrokers have backtracked on leading plans for the club’s controversial “Everyone in League” jersey to be worn again next season, with Mestrov saying decisions on any inclusion initiative will be left to the NRL.