Salary cap scandal: Parramatta Eels claim NRL made mistakes in transcripts
Date
June 14, 2016 - 8:00PM
Chris Barrett
Sports Writer
Parramatta have accused the NRL of attributing comments to the wrong people in the transcripts of taped board meetings that were included in salary cap breach notices.
The claim has been made in the submission filed to League Central last Friday, with the defence of the Eels and individuals also believed to suggest there were important omissions from the transcripts in the notices sent to the club and five officials.
The NRL appeared to dismiss Parramatta's argument on Tuesday night, a spokesman saying the breach notices were based on the evidence from a range of sources including tapes, emails, text messages and oral evidence provided to the investigation.
"We are confident we have the information needed to warrant the breach notices," the spokesman said.
NRL investigators gained access to audio recordings of board meetings after they were taped by former chief executive Scott Seward's executive assistant and stored on the club's server for the purposes of transcribing the minutes. The conversations captured from meetings over two years include the discussion of third-party agreements and suspicions that they might be in breach of NRL salary cap rules.
The Eels and their suspended officials lodged submissions with League Central over the past 10 days, leaving NRL chief executive Todd Greenberg to determine whether to rubber stamp their provisional penalty – a deduction of 12 competition points, a $1 million fine and the deregistration of directors and executives – or opt for heavier or lighter sanctions.
Parramatta's board is due to meet on Wednesday and reject a proposal made by director Geoff Gerard that he and the entire board stand down.
In a reflection of the bitter division that remains at the Eels, fellow board member Paul Garrard on Tuesday hit out at Gerard's suggestion but welcomed the possible exit of the former international.
"I think it's great news that he wants to stand down, absolutely great. If he wants to stand down, I think he should," Garrard said.
"He's obviously not up to the hard work that needs to be done. If it's too hot in the kitchen, get out.
"We haven't got time to be sitting around talking about menial topics like how to get some publicity. We're about trying to do the hard yards and that's what's being done. Someone has got to do it. If he wants to sit on the bench, good. We've got work to do. I think the best idea is for him to take his own advice."
Garrard said the board was optimistic of "good news" when the NRL makes its final decision, which is likely next week.
"We have been working very hard to develop a defence to the breach notice," he said. "We've been requesting information off the NRL, we've been seeking extensions in order to absorb that new information and respond accordingly and that's what we need to do as responsible board members.
"I assume the NRL is working as hard as we are. They're probably working harder than Geoff is."
