http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...p/news-story/cf29fb1c046f95e2ab95b8c98ae163e1
Parramatta will be forced to include a near $400,000 settlement with Will Hopoate in their salary cap
EXCLUSIVE, The Daily Telegraph
31 minutes ago
PARRAMATTA’S salary cap woes could extend for the next three years with revelations the Eels will be forced to include a near $400,000 settlement to former player Will Hopoate in its salary cap.
The Sunday Telegraph has learnt the Eels settled with Hopoate for $370,000 after the Canterbury fullback launched legal action against the club. Hopoate was seeking almost $2 million.
His legal team served papers against the Eels last August believing the club had changed the terms and fee of a three-year deal. Hopoate was to be paid $630,000 in 2016, $660,000 in 2017 and $690,000 in 2018. He since signed a contract with Canterbury.
Parramatta administrator Max Donnelly confirmed earlier this month the club had settled with Hopoate “a couple of weeks ago”.
While the NRL’s salary cap auditors have yet to make a determination it is understood the Eels will be forced to include the payout to Hopoate in its salary cap.
Luckily for the Eels, they will be able to spread the payments out over the next three years of salary caps, meaning the six figure settlement will not have to be included in its entirety in next year’s salary cap.
It comes in a week where the Eels recorded the worst financial results in NRL history, losing $11 million.
Parramatta have had some joy with the NRL in recent months after it was decided Kieran Foran’s $150,000 severance package would not be included in the club’s salary cap for next year.
Foran became the first player to have a payment excluded from the salary cap in a new rule where for conduct and behaviour issues it is in the best interests of the game for a player to leave a club.