Betting players to get life bans

NRL boss David Gallop has threatened life bans for any player involved in the betting scandal.

AAP

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NRL boss David Gallop has threatened life bans for any player found guilty of involvement in the betting scandal which has gripped the game.

Speaking at a state of the game address on Wednesday, Gallop said the matter was now in the hands of police, though he refused to rule out the NRL handing out its own penalty.

NSW Police have set up a taskforce to investigate suspicious betting activity surrounding the round 24 match between North Queensland and Canterbury in Townsville.

Betting agencies alerted the NRL when a large number of bets were placed on the first scoring play, which normally does not attract much attention.

"If these matters are proven, then you can expect to see us take the harshest action that we've got available to us," Gallop said.

"In terms of individuals obviously life bans are available to us and if this type of thing is proven then you would have to say that's very much on the cards."

Gallop said the league had not been given a timeframe for the police investigation to be completed.