Former rugby league player John Elias has been cleared of any involvement in the NRL's match fixing controversy.
At Sydney's Downing Centre Local Court on Thursday, Magistrate Peter Miszalski dismissed the charge against Elias of attempting to gain financial advantage by deception.
The charge related to his betting on a match between the North Queensland Cowboys and Canterbury Bulldogs on August 21 last year, an unusual betting plunge on an option that the first points scored would be from a Cowboys penalty goal.
"While it looked like there was some form of match fixing in evidence presented in this matter and that there was a substantial betting spread … a number of bets placed, I find that Mr Elias' wager was not of an illegal nature."
Defence lawyer Ronald Driels in his final submission argued that Elias' intent was not to defraud.
"That much is clear from reading transcripts of phone intercepts tended by investigators attached to the NSW Crime Commission," said Driels.
"For my client to have shown intent of committing a crime the other four legs would needed to have been successful."
In the match in question, Bulldogs forward Ryan Tandy was penalised just two minutes into the game in front of the Cowboys' posts, after he spilled the ball and gave away possession.
The Cowboys were awarded a penalty but the sting failed when the Cowboys took a tap kick and scored a try.
Elias was accused of placing bets on the first scoring option in the game but not of having any role in the alleged rort.
The 48-year-old had had pleaded not guilty to the charge.
The Magistrate said the police had every right to proceed against Elias but conceded his wagers had involved a multi-bet, involving four other legs.
The Cowboys penalty goal option was the first leg of Elias' multi-bet.