http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/...r-salary-cap-allegations-20171026-gz8yw6.html
Spotlight on Manly Sea Eagles over salary cap allegations
Pressure on the Manly Sea Eagles over alleged breaches of the salary cap continues to mount after the National Rugby League's integrity unit this week commenced formal interviews of club officials.
Revelations that several high-profile Manly players may have taken secret benefits or payments in cash, in breach of salary cap rules, came to police attention during Strike Force Nuralda's long-running investigation into match-fixing allegations.
The police investigation centred around four games involving Manly - three in 2015 and one in April 2016.
While detectives from the NSW Organised Crime Squad found no evidence of an organised conspiracy involving players fixing matchers, they did uncover a widespread trade in leaking of inside information from club insiders to punters. This is a criminal offence punishable by up to two years in jail. No charges will be laid as there is a six-month limitation from the date of the alleged offences occurring.
Fairfax Media revealed in July that that the NRL integrity unit had launched an investigation into Manly's alleged salary cap breaches. Several senior Manly officials initially refused to hand over their personal computers to the NRL integrity unit arguing that they were not legally obliged to.
However, the club had a change of heart and for months NRL investigators have been sifting through thousands of documents, computer records and information downloaded from the mobile phones of club officials.
Manly has maintained that it was not aware of allegations of salary cap breaches and that their 2017 mid-year salary cap audit was "completed by the NRL in record time and without adjustment".
One of those set to be interviewed is club stalwart and league legend Bob Fulton who coincidentally stepped down this week as a consultant to the club ending a 50-year association.
The 69-year-old joined the Sea Eagles in 1966, winning three premierships with Manly in the 1970sd. As Manly's coach, he also won two premierships in 1987 and 1996.
Speaking of his decision to leave, Mr Fulton told News Corp that "the club is now in great shape and it was the right time."
It is not suggested Fulton was involved in any wrongdoing.
In a separate matter, Justice Geoff Bellew of the NSW Supreme Court refused an application that he disqualify himself from a bail application by a former Manly sponsor.
Robby Melhem was charged in August over a major drug bust. The former mobile phone entrepreneur and property developer was nabbed after he allegedly sold cocaine to an undercover police officer at Sydney Olympic Park.
Detectives from the Middle Eastern Organised Crime Squad (MEOCS) later seized 22kg of cocaine from an apartment Mr Melhem's syndicate allegedly rented in Refinery Drive, Pyrmont.
Sources have told Fairfax Media that during his sponsorship of Manly, which finished several years ago, Mr Melhem had allegedly been supplying cocaine and prostitutes to some players as well as making cash payments to some in breach of salary cap regulations. On several occasions at private parties hosted by Mr Melhem he allegedly provided cocaine to some players.
At his bail application on Thursday both the Crown prosecutor and Mr Melhem's barrister Graham Turnbull SC asked Justice Bellew to disqualify himself.
The judge, a former Manly director, refused to disqualify himself. Justice Bellew said that he had never met Mr Melhem and had stepped down as a director of the NRL in 2002.
Mr Turnbull later withdrew his client's bail application.
