NRL boss Todd Greenberg has responded diplomatically to the release of police match-fixing investigation findings just hours before the Rugby League World Cup kick off.
NSW Police on Friday confirmed they had found no evidence of match-fixing in four games investigated from the 2015 and 2016 seasons.
But they did find players had allegedly passed on inside information and evidence that players had been preyed on by people offering drugs and prostitutes.
Passing on inside information is illegal in the eyes of the law, but no charges will be laid as they occurred more than than six months earlier and were outside the statute of limitations on summary offences.
Friday's police media conference in Sydney overshadowed the lead in to the opening game of the World Cup in Melbourne between Australia and England on Friday night.
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"This is not my choosing, the timing today," Greenberg said.
"Clearly if I had my own choice of timing I wouldn't be doing it at the start of the Rugby League World Cup.
"But I'm a realist and I understand the demands of police authorities both in NSW and around the country."
Gold Coast hooker Nathan Peats was among those on social media to question the timing of the release on Friday.
But Greenberg said he wouldn't be critical of the police.
"I know people will want me to look very upset and distressed today about how this has played out," Greenberg said.
"But we're realists in this environment. When these sorts of things come up we will work with police to make sure they are covered.
"They've got a much bigger job around the country than just worrying about NRL players."
Friday's announcement brought to a close an investigation of more than two years, and included 161 witnesses and 13 potential persons of interest.
It also left a shadow hanging over the game for more than a season, but again Greenberg was diplomatic when asked if he was frustrated the integrity of the game had been questioned in public.
"To be honest, this investigation will hold us in good stead in the coming period of time," Greenberg said.
"People will know that despite a very extensive (investigation), the game has not been charged and the players in the game have not been charged, and that's a very important step in this journey."
