http://www.theaustralian.com.au/spo...s/news-story/7f746054a02a9f23f28ca3c3ee2088b9
NRL turns up the salary cap heat on Parramatta Eels
- The Australian
- 12:00AM July 9, 2016
- Brent Read
Senior sports writer
Sydney
Paul Garrard declined to reveal what the additional information impacted on the club’s hopes of having any sanctions reduced.
Parramatta officials were yesterday forced to respond to further allegations of salary cap irregularities after the NRL provided the club with an additional 300 pages of documentation earlier this week.
Eels director Paul Garrard confirmed the club had been furnished with more information by the NRL and said he would be stunned if the game’s governing body handed down its final decision on sanctions today given the recent developments.
There had been speculation the hammer would fall on the club over the weekend, with the expectation that the NRL will maintain their initial position by stripping the Eels of 12 premiership points and fining them up to $1 million.
The club responded to the NRL’s initial findings last month but Garrard yesterday confirmed they had received additional information on Tuesday, from which they were asked to formulate a response by late yesterday.
“They sent us another 300 pages on information on Tuesday,’’ Garrard said. “We have been asking for information and they haven’t been giving it to us. Right at the death they gave us a bit more.”
Garrard declined to reveal how the additional information affected the club’s hopes of having any sanctions reduced, although the club had been seeking further interview transcripts from the NRL.
It is believed their response to the NRL allegations centred around evidence provided by former chief executive Scott Seward, who was interviewed by the NRL as part of their investigation into the club.
Five Eels officials were stood down over the allegations — chairman Steve Sharp, deputy chairman Tim Issa, director Peter Serrao, chief executive John Boulous and head of football operations Daniel Anderson.
Their futures hang on how the NRL reacts to Parramatta’s submissions concerning the salary cap allegations. The NRL has taken its time in reviewing information provided by the Eels as they look to ensure their final decision is watertight.
Parramatta could take the matter further if they are unhappy with the outcome, raising the prospect of legal action or a review through the NRL appeals committee. The club has also raised concerns over the role NRL chief executive Todd Greenberg has played in the investigation and whether he should play a part in determining the final outcome given his relationship with Seward.
The Eels were expected to request that Greenberg play no part in finalising any sanctions.