There are bigger issues out there than Tom Waterhouse and bookies Tom Waterhouse does a piece to camera on the sideline during the round nine NRL match between the Rabbitohs and the Cowboys. THE Children are our future. Whitney Houston sang that. Alas, she drowned in a bathtub after having a heart attack following years of substance abuse so Whitney is not around to grab a torch and pitchfork and join the angry crusade against sports betting and its evil priest Tom Waterhouse dot com. Because it's The Children who have the most to lose if we keep heading down this depraved path of sports gambling. Not just their pocket money, but their souls. It's curious that the federal government and the opposition suddenly became interested in finally banning the promotion of odds and advertisements during live matches at the precise moment they sniffed some votes in it. So, too, an NRL media release last Sunday golf-clapping the move. Wasn't the NRL about to jump into bed with Waterhouse only a few weeks ago until the deal fell apart? The NRL is still prepared to have a partnership with Sportingbet, which has odds plastered all over the league's official website in a deal believed to be worth upwards of $700,000. There's nothing to be gained in defending Waterhouse or the bookies. When we dared to suggest in this space a few months ago that Tommy wasn't such a bad bloke even if there's just too much of him, a reader left a voicemail message hoping we would be repeatedly run over by a bus. Not only does that hurt our feelings, it also enhances a long-held phobia of public transport. Waterhouse had little choice but to cut back on his air time on Channel 9, as he promisedn in an exclusive column in The Daily Telegraph yesterday. That was never more evident than moments before last Friday night's match between the Bulldogs and Broncos. After a minute's silence had been observed, Waterhouse cheerily butted in just before kick-off with some final odds and fluctuations, and then talked about how tough he would do it if the Bulldogs got home. "I think you'll be all right, Tom," was Ray Warren's remark. Problem gambling is a serious issue. The Children need to be protected. But how this debate sits at the very top of the national agenda, in an election year, is astounding. This column conducted some probing research into the matter to discover what The Children are thinking ... by calling its rugby league-obsessed nephews. Gai and Tom Waterhouse at Randwick racecourse. Ryan, 13, Sea Eagles fan: "Tom Waterhouse is all right, I guess. He talks about gambling and that, doesn't he? It's a joke that Matai was suspended for that tackle the other week. Jay, 12, Sea Eagles fan: "He's betting and all that stuff, isn't he? I have no idea what he's talking about. Gotta go. Mum said the bus is coming. She's cranky today. Kelly, 36, mother: "They don't bet because I explain to them the issues about gambling. As a mother of four, it's my responsibility to teach children the difference between right and wrong. They're on their iPods right up until kick-off anyway. If we're all so concerned about The Children, let's rip the big VB symbol off the NSW Origin jumper and ban all alcohol advertising during sport. Let's ban kids playing UFC on PlayStation so they don't think it's acceptable to knee others in the head. And stop them from watching music videos so they don't start dressing and dancing like strippers before they reach kindie, and "gangster rapper" isn't an occupation to aspire to. So let's get real. The primary concern is that of annoyed fans tired of seeing Tommy Waterhouse's little head and sparkly teeth as they watch their footy on a Friday night. An annoyance. Doesn't this country have larger fish to fry? Like the not-so-minor issues of gay marriage, treating refugees from war-torn countries like criminals, and who'll win The Voice? GET a mental image in your head of Dr Evil, with pinkie held to the corner of mouth, saying: "One million dollars." That's the price Israel Folau wants to return to rugby league. In other league news just to hand, we're hearing that Shaun Kenny Dowall is feeling like he's on the outer at the Roosters and his management is sniffing around other clubs. That's news to the Roosters, who want one of the club's most popular players to stay, even if he isn't in the best of form. He has two years remaining on his contract. What else? One of the best blokes in the game, NSWRL chief executive Geoff Carr, is hanging up the drinking boots after 25 years of administration at the end of the Origin series. We've heard whispers that former Wests Tigers chairman Dave Trodden is his likely replacement. Finally, Eels fans can breathe easy: Gareth Hock will definitely be coming to your club next year. Reports that he would be reneging on the deal are not right. He had always promised to join them in January, after is partner gives birth. "A couple of longnecks will do." - NSW lock Greg Bird tells Triple M how he and Jarryd Hayne will spend the four-hour car trip back from Mudgee last Sunday night. Only a couple? We expected better of a Maitland boy. "What's going on with Gai Waterhouse in Australia?" - Elizabeth II, Queen of the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth realms, asks her racing manager about the More Joyous saga. Remember, Your Royal Highness, gamble responsibly. "If QLD can pick GI for SOO, maybe they'll try to pick the Burgess brothers." - Where is Bradford? According to this tweet from Federal Minister for Infrastructure - and Souths diehard - Anthony Albanese it may well be in Queensland. "You ever handled a snake before?" - Matty Johns asks Nathan Hindmarsh a curly one on Monday Night With Matty Johns. We are letting that one straight through to the keeper. Channel 7 newsreader Chris Bath has two sure things for you at Eagle Farm today. Gondokoro will win the Queensland Oaks (Race 7) and Voila Ici will win the Eagle Farm Cup (Race 3). Channel Nine commentator Ray Warren. There has never been a better time to speak to the doyen Channel 9 caller ahead of his 25th Origin series and days away from his 70th birthday. What was your first Origin, Rabbits? I can't remember my first Origin, but I started in 1989 next to Darrell Eastlake. I was a replacement for Ian Maurice. I can still remember walking around Lang Park with Darrell, around the perimeter, and the crowd just gave it to him. They threw things at him. He loved it. Is your call "THAT'S NOT A TRY THAT'S A MIRACLE!" when Mark Coyne scored at the death in 1994 your most memorable Origin moment? Yeah, that would be the most memorable Origin try I've called and probably the most indelible commentary that I've ever made in relation to football. Other moments? I delighted in the success story of Wally Lewis, because we'd found him when we were calling Amco Cup. He was sitting on the bench for Combined Brisbane. Watching him when he came on, we could see this incredible talent at the embryo stage. All of our forecasts came true. He sat on the throne for a decade ... And the Billy Slater double kick and re-gather is etched in my memory. You're turning 70 on June 11. How are you celebrating? A sky dive? No, no, no. I haven't got a bucket list. I can assure you if I did that wouldn't be on it. I'm standing on the second floor of my house now and I have vertigo just looking out the window. No bucket list. No party. I'm terribly grateful that I got this far. I wish it was my 40th.