NRL integrity unit summons former Parramatta Eels boss Scott Seward to salary cap investigation
The NRL integrity unit has summoned former Parramatta boss Scott Seward to provide evidence in the salary cap investigation that threatens to see the Eels docked competition points.
In a dramatic twist to the NRL's probe into Parramatta, Fairfax Media can reveal the Eels have agreed to waive Seward's confidentiality agreement for him to be interviewed next week.
Seward has been the scapegoat for Parramatta's piling list of indiscretions since his sudden departure last year, and there is a fear he will tip the bucket on the club if given an opportunity to testify against the Eels.
But the Eels have also publicly agreed to fully cooperate with the NRL in its investigation, and a failure to waive Seward's confidentiality agreement may have been seen as a sign of guilt and an unwillingness to comply with the integrity unit.
However Parramatta is set to sign off on an arrangement that will allow Seward to fly up from his Melbourne home to meet with the NRL integrity unit next week.
"The club has agreed for Mr Seward to be interviewed by the NRL's integrity unit and we welcome the investigation of all relevant material," an Eels spokesperson said.
"Current club leadership remains firmly of the view that the investigation will in time reveal the truth of the matters currently subject to so much public speculation. Since Mr Seward's tenure the club has have overhauled and significantly improved the club's governance. We have done this with the assistance of Price Waterhouse Coopers (PWC) who made 117 recommendations for reforming the culture of the club.
"To date, all 52 mandatory recommendations have been implemented under the plan agreed to with the NRL. Other non-mandatory recommendations are also in the process of being implemented. We shall offer no further comment, mindful of the need to preserve the integrity of the investigation."
Seward was contacted by the NRL last week and informed them he would be unable to provide evidence prior to the June 30 confidentiality expiration date, unless the NRL was willing to offer him indemnity or convince Parramatta to waive the previous agreement.
The NRL begun interviewing Eels employees this week and are hopeful of reaching an outcome by the end of next week.
It is understood chairman Steve Sharp and chief executive John Boulous have yet to be called into meetings with the integrity unit.
The request to interview Seward forms part of an NRL probe into a raft of dubious contracting practices at the club in recent years.
Most notably, head office is investigating a third-party agreement to star forward Anthony Watmough that was not properly disclosed.
Former Eels CFO Ed Farish urged club officials to self-report the fact that the former NSW forward's TPA sponsor, ScoreCube, was a wholly owned subsidiary of Black Citrus, a firm that has provided the club with a range of IT services.
The salary cap rules forbid any company involved in commercial arrangements with an NRL club from providing TPAs.
Ironically, had the Eels heeded Farish's advice and come clean, there is a chance they could have escaped sanction altogether.
In a bid to encourage clubs to report dubious practices, the NRL's code of conduct has a provision in it that allows for a moratorium to be sought in which officials can make voluntary disclosures without fear of reprisal.
However, Parramatta chose not to, raising the prospect of heavy sanctions including the stripping of competition points, large fines and the sacking of staffers.
