Ex-NRL star who was kicked out after match betting eyes Super League move

After making his boxing debut, the exiled NRL star Tim Simona is looking for a route back into rugby league.

The former Wests Tigers centre suffered a third round defeat to Aaron Cocco in his bout back in December after being heavily beaten.

The 30-year-old had previously been linked with the Toronto Wolfpack when they were a Super League club back in 2020 and Hull KR, according to zerotackle.

But, since his indiscretions which led him to being deregistered by the NRL, Simona is currently working with disabled children and has insisted that he was no longer the same person who made a series of indiscretions which, apart from his betting scandal, also included cocaine use and ripping off a children’s charity, according to the Daily Telegraph.

And, he is said to be determined to make it big once more in the world of rugby league with Simona’s management having preliminary discussions with several NRL clubs as well as piquing the interest of Super League clubs.

However, any interested NRL franchise would have to lodge an application, and have it approved by the Australian Rugby League Commission following the former Wests Tigers’ past indiscretions.

Asked by the Daily Telegraph if he was chasing a return to rugby league, Simona said: “Yes, I am.

“My heart has always been with footy and to get back to NRL, that’s the dream.

“I feel like I’ve served my punishment and learned from my mistakes.

“But at the end of the day, it’s out of my control.”