A professional punter at the centre of NRL’s latest match-fixing scandal is again in hot water after reportedly sending a Fairfax journalist homosexual slurs.

Controversial gambling identity Eddie Hayson texted columnist Andrew Webster on Saturday in what Webster labelledin a column in the Sydney Morning Herald “a homophobic rant”.

“Your [sic] just a weak homosexual aren’t you,” Hayson’s message began.

“No balls to write the Wayne Bennett story but happy to write about the match fixing story which is destroying innocent lives of several people and everyone knows it has not happened.

“That’s what a coward you are and by the way all the players don’t want you anywhere near the dressing rooms every [sic] again looking at them getting changed and that’s them saying that not me and should look at different career as rugby league and homosexuality don’t mix.

“Your [sic] just a weak suck. Cheers.”

Webster said the text exposes Hayson “for what he truly is. Scum”.

The Fairfax columnist interviewed the former brothel owner in June this year during the police investigation into two potential match-fixing incidents allegedly involving the Manly Sea Eagles.

Webster said he decided to lose Hayson’s number soon after, to avoid being pestered for information and what his colleagues were writing.

But the two were back in touch following Thursday’s media conference.

Hayson was angry at Webster’s decision not to cover Brisbane coach Wayne Bennett’s split from his wife of 42 years,  instead reporting on the prominent match-fixing story, which saw NSW Police establishing Strike Force Nuralda two weeks ago to look deeper into the matter.

Hayson’s choice words followed the morning after.

But Webster, who has previously written about being gay and says he is proud of his sexuality, said he would not turn his back on what he determines as crossing the line.

“Most turn their back on nasty homophobia and pretend it didn’t happen. I’d prefer to call it out,” he wrote.

Webster signed off with a message to Hayson himself.

“And I can’t change jobs, Eddie. I love the game too much. I love writing about the game and its people too much. I don’t really know how to do anything else,” Webster closed.

“But I’ll tell you something: the game would be so much nicer to cover if you weren’t involved with it. That’s the players saying it — not just me.”