The NRL won't begin to intervene on player payment schedules at clubs, despite revelations Tim Simona repeatedly requested advancements from Wests Tigers.
Simona told News Corp Australia over the weekend he successfully asked for advancements on his six-figure salary four times while at the Tigers, which helped feed his drug and gambling addiction.
The club has since maintained Simona wasn't honest in his requests, with the disgraced centre admitting those at the Tigers had no idea of the life he was leading away from the field.
Simona was de-registered by the NRL on Friday for placing more than 60 bets on himself, and opposition players and teams, in competition matches last year.
The 25-year-old also admitted to selling signed jerseys to raise money for charities, only to pocket at least some of the funds for himself.
Simona had been supporting his family financially throughout his career, helping them with rent in the working class Sydney south-western suburb of Macquarie Fields, while on his reported $325,000-a-year contract.
At this stage clubs do not need to notify the league of any players who request advanced payments, or their reasoning for it.
And a spokesman for the NRL told AAP on Monday that wouldn't be changing.
"The clubs are in the best position to monitor the welfare and payments to their players," he said.
The Tigers have risen from 16th on the NRL's welfare list to being ranked second, following a massive overhaul and increase in spending in the department.
Chief executive Justin Pascoe told Fairfax Media on Sunday that Simona had obtained the advancements when he claimed he had needed them for particular personal reasons.
Any advanced-payment requests must be approved by the club's management, and in some instances will be required to pass through the board.
But he said little could be done to help players who were dishonest.
"He came up with reasons which we thought were justifiable for that advance," Pascoe said.
"We wouldn't give players an advance if we knew they had gambling issues."
Meanwhile Pascoe also maintained Simona's illicit drug use, which the fallen star said began at a Tigers' mad Monday three years ago, didn't extend to other players at the NRL club.
"I believe there is no drug culture at the Wests Tigers," Pascoe said.
"I can only talk about what I have done in the last 18 months and the culture we're trying to build now. I can't speculate on what happened three years ago."
Pascoe also said there was nothing to suggest other players were involved in the use of drugs three seasons ago.
