Saints duo to face commissioner

St Helens duo Sean Long and Martin Gleeson have been called to appear before a Rugby Football League disciplinary commissioner on June 17 to answer allegations of betting irregularities.

It is alleged the Great Britain internationals placed bets on Saints to lose by more than nine points at Bradford on Easter Monday.

Eleven first-team regulars were missing for St Helens during the Super League clash and they were thrashed 54-8.

Long was one of the missing St Helens players but Gleeson made his comeback from a hand injury to play in the game.

Newspaper reports claimed both players won almost £1,000 each from the alleged bet although Long insisted he was acting on behalf of a friend.

He told the Daily Mail: "It was not my bet. I opened the account for my mate.
"He didn't have the money in his account so I just said I'd put the money on for him and, obviously, he would give me the money if he lost and I would give him the money if he won."

The laws of the Rugby Football League state: "No club official, referee, touch judge, licensed agent or player shall bet on any rugby league match in which he or his club are participating."