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Dog caught in cap dispute
By Adam Hawse
January 23, 2005
A TELEVISION commercial featuring Sonny Bill Williams has landed rugby league's rising star in a salary cap storm that could see the Bulldogs fined.
NRL salary cap auditor Ian Schubert has written to the Bulldogs seeking answers on why Williams' payment for his role in the commercial for Gatorade - drink sponsor for the Bulldogs - was not disclosed by the club.
The Bulldogs, seeking answers themselves, say they didn't know about the advertisement.
But Schubert made it clear at the annual conference last month that it is the responsibility of each club to inform the NRL of any third-party sponsorship arrangement with players.
It is also written in the standard NRL players' contract that the individual must inform his club of any such sponsorship.
The timing is particularly poor for the premiers, who are trying to sign Williams to a new contract.
NRL chief executive David Gallop confirmed a letter had gone to both the Bulldogs and Gavin Orr, the manager of Williams.
Bulldogs chief executive Malcolm Noad admitted if Williams' payment is included as part of the salary cap, the limit of $3.25million could be breached.
A source said Williams received up to $50,000 for the ad.
"We're in the process of trying to get details on it ourselves and we'll pass it on to the NRL," Noad said last night.
"We've been talking to Ian Schubert about it for a couple of weeks.
"The commercial has been on air since around Christmas and the first we knew about it was when we saw it on television.
"We're still waiting for the details from Sonny's management team.
"I'm not sure how much money it is. I don't believe it's a lot, there's only one commercial involved, so I don't think it's a major long-term contract.
"But it does have the potential to push us over the cap."
Orr, of Pacific Sports Management, did not return calls from The Sunday Telegraph.
Gatorade is not only drinks sponsor for the Bulldogs but also a product of Cadbury Schweppes - a significant sponsor of the Bulldogs.
The advertisement with Williams, who will be the most highly sought-after player on the market this year, also features Australian fast bowler Brett Lee.
The NRL is particularly vigilant against any payment from club sponsors.
Before the NRL cracked down on enforcing the cap, large payments to players to appear in advertisements for sponsors was a way for clubs to circumvent the salary cap.
The Bulldogs had hoped the days of salary-cap breaches were behind them, after rorts by former management saw the team stripped of 37 competition points and drop from premiership favourites to wooden-spooners in 2002.
Meanwhile, Test centre Willie Tonga is expected to re-sign with the club this week.
The Sunday Telegraph
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They should be fined. And how can they say that they did not know about the add, The whole of Sydney has seen it for the last month. The add features Sonny in his Bulldogs training gear, So he had to ask for permission from the club to use there Logo. And from what it looked liked, it was filmed at Belmore.
After what they have been through They must be just plain DUMB and stupid out at Belmore. And to quote this little piece "But it does have the potential to push us over the cap." If this does happen the Cheatabury should be docked points again and fined as they have gone over the cap again in the space of 2 years.
By Adam Hawse
January 23, 2005
A TELEVISION commercial featuring Sonny Bill Williams has landed rugby league's rising star in a salary cap storm that could see the Bulldogs fined.
NRL salary cap auditor Ian Schubert has written to the Bulldogs seeking answers on why Williams' payment for his role in the commercial for Gatorade - drink sponsor for the Bulldogs - was not disclosed by the club.
The Bulldogs, seeking answers themselves, say they didn't know about the advertisement.
But Schubert made it clear at the annual conference last month that it is the responsibility of each club to inform the NRL of any third-party sponsorship arrangement with players.
It is also written in the standard NRL players' contract that the individual must inform his club of any such sponsorship.
The timing is particularly poor for the premiers, who are trying to sign Williams to a new contract.
NRL chief executive David Gallop confirmed a letter had gone to both the Bulldogs and Gavin Orr, the manager of Williams.
Bulldogs chief executive Malcolm Noad admitted if Williams' payment is included as part of the salary cap, the limit of $3.25million could be breached.
A source said Williams received up to $50,000 for the ad.
"We're in the process of trying to get details on it ourselves and we'll pass it on to the NRL," Noad said last night.
"We've been talking to Ian Schubert about it for a couple of weeks.
"The commercial has been on air since around Christmas and the first we knew about it was when we saw it on television.
"We're still waiting for the details from Sonny's management team.
"I'm not sure how much money it is. I don't believe it's a lot, there's only one commercial involved, so I don't think it's a major long-term contract.
"But it does have the potential to push us over the cap."
Orr, of Pacific Sports Management, did not return calls from The Sunday Telegraph.
Gatorade is not only drinks sponsor for the Bulldogs but also a product of Cadbury Schweppes - a significant sponsor of the Bulldogs.
The advertisement with Williams, who will be the most highly sought-after player on the market this year, also features Australian fast bowler Brett Lee.
The NRL is particularly vigilant against any payment from club sponsors.
Before the NRL cracked down on enforcing the cap, large payments to players to appear in advertisements for sponsors was a way for clubs to circumvent the salary cap.
The Bulldogs had hoped the days of salary-cap breaches were behind them, after rorts by former management saw the team stripped of 37 competition points and drop from premiership favourites to wooden-spooners in 2002.
Meanwhile, Test centre Willie Tonga is expected to re-sign with the club this week.
The Sunday Telegraph
*******************
They should be fined. And how can they say that they did not know about the add, The whole of Sydney has seen it for the last month. The add features Sonny in his Bulldogs training gear, So he had to ask for permission from the club to use there Logo. And from what it looked liked, it was filmed at Belmore.
After what they have been through They must be just plain DUMB and stupid out at Belmore. And to quote this little piece "But it does have the potential to push us over the cap." If this does happen the Cheatabury should be docked points again and fined as they have gone over the cap again in the space of 2 years.
