Betting Scandal

St Helens are to carry out their own inquiry into an alleged betting scandal involving two of their high-profile players.

Great Britain stars Sean Long and Martin Gleeson are accused by a national newspaper of winning almost £1,000 each after betting Saints would lose to Bradford by at least nine points on Easter Monday.

St Helens lost the match 54-8 after coach Ian Millward left out 11 players, including Long, from the team that played Wigan three days earlier.

Long, who told the Daily Mail he placed the bet for a friend, and Gleeson are alleged to have placed £1,000 bets at odds of 10-11 that the Bulls would win by at least nine points.

Long told the paper: “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.”

Betting is strictly against the laws of the game.