Tim Simona, NRL player who was banned for life from game has been given a new contract

A disgraced football star who was given a life ban by the NRL after he admitted to placing bets on games and stealing from charity has been cleared to play again.

Tim Simona, 27, who played for the Wests Tigers, has been given a new contract by the Blacktown Workers in reserve grade for the rest of the 2019 season, the Sydney Morning Herald reported.

The star had his $325,000 contract ripped up and was banned for life after he breached NRL rules by betting on games, and stole money meant for charity.

His girlfriend Jaya Takai (pictured) also claimed Simona ‘bullied’ her into having an abortion. In a letter sent to the Sydney Morning Herald in 2017, saying that once she fell pregnant, Simona told her the child would ruin his career and he wouldn’t support it

The backflip comes after Simona spent the last two-and-a-half seasons off the field having tried desperately to make a return to the sport. 

He was forced to pull out of a charity boxing event last year after he was refused entry from the Combat Sports Authority.

While NRL have since confirmed he has been cleared to play in NSWRL competitions, making the top grade may still be a way off for Simona.

‘It is very hard to imagine that Tim Simona will be registered with the NRL at any time in the future,’ NRL chief executive Todd Greenberg said previously. 

Simona had his $325,000 contract ripped up after he admitted to using cocaine, and pleaded guilty to deception after he routinely kept money from signed football merchandise which was auctioned off supposedly to benefit a children’s cancer charity.

The move proves to be controversial after the star was slapped with a life ban after he breached NRL rules by betting on games and pocketed funds made from club merchandise which was meant for a children’s charity

The former star, who made his first grade debut in 2011, was given an 18-month good behaviour bond after admitting to deception in 2017.

Simona would buy merchandise from the club and then auction the items on social media – keeping the profits for himself instead of donating them.

Magistrate Ian Guy said this happened between 10 to 15 times, and that ‘unsuspecting’ people thought their money was going to a good cause.

‘Little did they realise they were benefiting you,’ Mr Guy said.

Simona’s lawyer asked for the conviction to not be recorded but the claim was rejected.

The footy star was forced to pay the money back to Camp Quality, a charity supporting kids with cancer.

Simona had his $325,000 contract ripped up after he admitted to using cocaine, and pleaded guilty to deception after he routinely kept money from signed football merchandise which was auctioned off supposedly to benefit a children’s cancer charity. Pictured: Simona (centre) arriving at Cambelltown Local Court in Sydney on July 11, 2017

His girlfriend Jaya Takai also claimed Simona ‘bullied’ her into having an abortion.

In a letter sent to the Sydney Morning Herald in 2017, she revealed that once she fell pregnant, Simona told her the child would ruin his career and he wouldn’t support it.

‘What got me really angry is that I had an abortion on the Friday and on the Saturday he was out clubbing. I said I sacrificed my child for you and you are out partying,’ she said. 

Ms Taki said she was traumatised and was receiving death threats which led her to hand over Simona’s phone to the NRL with proof of his gambling. 

In a later interview he rejected those claims, saying the decision to abort their unborn child was mutual.

Since being banned, Simona has worked with charities and assisted handicapped children. 

Simona will make his NSWRL debut with the Blacktown Workers next week in a game against South Sydney