League betting scandal case thrown out Three NRL figures charged with taking part in an alleged betting scandal have had their case thrown out of court. Former rugby league player John Elias, former Parramatta player Brad Murray and Jai Ayoub, the son of Murray's manager Sam Ayoub, will also seek the prosecution to pay their legal costs. Magistrate Greg Grogin permanently stayed the case against the trio in Downing Centre Local Court on Thursday. The men had been charged over bets placed on the game between North Queensland and Canterbury on August 21, 2010. The match was the subject of an unusual betting plunge on the first score being a Cowboys penalty goal. All three men placed bets on the Cowboys' penalty goal being the first score, which did not eventuate. They were charged with dishonestly obtaining financial advantage by deception. In his decision, Magistrate Grogin supported the defence's argument that just because the men may have received information about actions on the field to force the penalty it did not constitute an offence. It is the nature of professional sport for people close to players, coaching staff and others to hear information that could affect the outcome of a match. He also said there was a "lack of causal link" between the action on the field and the men's betting activity, further distancing them from any criminality. Therefore, there was no evidence they took part in planning what happened on the field. Counsel for the trio will have their applications for costs heard before the same court on September 20.