NRL forced to backflip on banned Parramatta Eels officials
The NRL was yesterday accused of living in a parallel universe and urged to clean up its own backyard after being forced to backflip on warnings that Parramatta would be unable to play for premiership points while the five suspended officials were engaged in a legal battle against the game’s governing body.
Legal sources confirmed that the NRL had sent correspondence to the representatives for the suspended officials — chairman Steve Sharp, fellow board members Tom Issa and Peter Serrao, chief executive John Boulous and football manager Daniel Anderson — on Thursday night outlining that their case had no impact on whether the club could play for premiership points.
It marked an early victory for the five banned officials — their legal representatives were engaged in the Supreme Court with the NRL yesterday morning — allowing them to continue in their roles for the immediate future despite misgivings from NRL chief executive Todd Greenberg. It also means they will be able to play a role in getting the club under the salary cap.
Regardless, the Eels are set to be docked at least 12 points for breaches of the salary cap once the club has been given time to respond to the allegations. Any points acquired once the club has moved under the salary cap — they hope to be in that position by the time they face South Sydney next week — will be at the discretion of the NRL.
The club is furiously attempting to shave money off their cap for the remainder of this season, with that move largely set to rest on how the NRL views the club’s application to have backrower Anthony Watmough considered for a career-ending injury.
The club has forwarded paperwork for Watmough to the NRL, with a decision likely to be made early next week by the governing body. That in itself is set to cause controversy, with rival club chief executives already set to raise the matter — and the precedent it potentially sets — with NRL chief executive Todd Greenberg.
They are likely to put it on the agenda again at a meeting of club bosses next month. For the time being, the Eels are intent on manoeuvring room under their salary cap to ensure they are playing for premiership points once the game against the Rabbitohs arrives.
Greenberg had indicated the club would be unable to earn any premiership points while legal action remained afoot. However, the NRL yesterday confirmed that was no longer the case, prompting a scathing reaction from some within the Parramatta camp.
“This is the whole point — they have absolute discretion,” one source close to the club told The Weekend Australian.
“It’s in their rules that you can’t actually challenge them. It is the NRL parallel universe separate from the rest of the world’s legal functions. That’s what is going on there.
“They’re not used to getting challenged on it. If they want to have a shot about corporate governance, time to clean up your own backyard, isn’t it.”
The NRL yesterday afternoon confirmed the club and officials had requested and been granted 28 days to respond to their breach notices. It is understood the club’s legal team also received the full brief of evidence against the club and its officials yesterday, with the interaction between Greenberg and former Parramatta chief executive Scott Seward set to be closely perused.
“As we said from the outset, this is a preliminary decision and the club now has an opportunity to respond,” an NRL spokesman said. “Once the club’s response is considered, the NRL will make a final determination on the penalty which may be the same or it may change.
“It is important to note that no final decision has been made. The club can accrue points while the breach process is ongoing but the NRL will determine whether those points are retained in its final determination.
“As we have said before, if the club gets under the salary cap in the meantime that will be a material consideration.”
The NRL had cancelled a meeting between club officials and salary cap auditor Jamie L’oste Brown on Thursday but talks are set to continue over the weekend in written form as the NRL considers Parramatta submissions on their cap position.
