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http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/...ay-cuts-to-stick-together-20100714-10b48.html
So about now is the time I start to get teh sh*ts with Gallop and the NRL .... its ok for cheating merkins to take pay cuts to keep their mates at their team, but its not ok for a few parra players to do so to keep a guy on minimum wage at their team ..... f**kwits!
Big four offer to take pay cuts to stick together
CHRIS BARRETT
July 15, 2010
Staying put ... Greg Inglis is set to remain in Melbourne as the Storm puts together its new roster. Photo: Getty Images
STORM stars Cameron Smith, Billy Slater, Greg Inglis and Cooper Cronk have approached Melbourne officials offering to take pay cuts to assist the club in their efforts to retain them all and form a competitive squad that fits under the $4.2 million salary cap next year.
Storm players have for some time discussed between themselves the idea of pay cuts to help get the club back under the cap.
However, it is understood Smith, Slater, Inglis and Cronk - who between them account for a staggering $2.2m on the club's player salary list - have spoken to Storm officials, offering to have their incomes reduced in an effort to stick together.
Tired of being branded as greedy, the representative foursome are believed to be willing to have decent-sized slices taken from their pockets to accommodate a draft plan formulated to keep not only them as well as other first-grade fixtures Adam Blair, Sika Manu, Dane Nielsen and, in a best-case scenario, Brett White.
Smith, Inglis and Slater are all listed on the salary cap with incomes of about $600,000, while fellow international Cronk earns between $350,000 and $400,000. All four, it is understood, have made it clear they would take pay cuts in order to stay together in Melbourne.
The concept of salary reductions at the Storm next year is one the NRL are aware of. The NRL would not accept Storm pay cuts to get them under the cap in 2010 as mid-year alterations to salaries are not allowed. However, they will give them the green light for next year, although reductions in salary of an outrageous nature will not be acceptable. ''We wouldn't allow it in 2010,'' NRL chief executive David Gallop said.
''We'd certainly need to look at any proposal they put to us that will keep them under the cap in 2011, so long as it's fair to the other clubs in the competition.''
Melbourne are awaiting the delivery of an audit, commissioned and summarised by club owner News Ltd, into the extent of their cap cheating before moving on pay cuts and releases to determine their roster for next season.
Players have spoken of their discontent with the ongoing wait for the investigation findings to be released, having had their futures in the air in the almost three months since the Storm's breach and resulting penalty was announced on April 22.
The plan by Storm officials to keep their leading four players, reported by the Herald for the past fortnight, has been inadvertently aided by the NRL's recent tinkering to the salary-cap structure.
Their ability to retain players will be assisted by the $100,000 rise in the cap for 2011, the doubling of the marquee player allowance from $150,000 to $300,000 and a review of the third-party payment regulations, which will make legal next year some of the arrangements - including the guaranteeing of external deals - that have landed them in hot water for the past five years.
So about now is the time I start to get teh sh*ts with Gallop and the NRL .... its ok for cheating merkins to take pay cuts to keep their mates at their team, but its not ok for a few parra players to do so to keep a guy on minimum wage at their team ..... f**kwits!
