Casper The Ghost
First Grade
- Messages
- 9,924
NRL reopens Melbourne Storm
salary cap investigation
EXCLUSIVE by Josh Massoud
The Daily Telegraph
August 31, 2010
MELBOURNE players and officials remain under a salary cap cloud,
with the NRL reopening its investigation into the rorts that have
already cost the Storm two premierships and the chance to
compete for points this season.
New investigation ... Greg Inglis. Source: Getty Images
The Daily Telegraph can reveal that NRL salary cap auditor Ian Schubert has been in contact with Storm officials to arrange interviews with selected players following this weekend's final round.
Schubert has also sent a memo to the Rugby League Players Association stating that the NRL is yet to "clear" any individuals.
His warning comes nearly two months after a Deloitte report commissioned by club owner News Limited (publisher of The Daily Telegraph) found no evidence to support that any players knew about the scams.
In the RLPA memo, dated August 25, Schubert writes: "It is not correct to state that the Melbourne Storm players have been cleared of any wrongdoing ... the NRL's investigation of the extent (if any) to which players (as well as others within the club) were involved in the avoidance of the salary cap is still in progress.
"Although we hope to complete the investigation in the coming weeks, the position has by no means been reached whereby any of the players may regard themselves as having been cleared."
More than a dozen players were named in the Deloitte report as having received benefits outside the cap. It was also revealed that star trio Greg Inglis, Cameron Smith and Billy Slater all received "side letters" that guaranteed them third-party payments.
The respective managers of both Inglis and Smith, Allan Gainey and Isaac Moses, signed the letters on behalf of their clients and are currently being investigated by their accreditation committee.
The NRL last night confirmed it was reviewing the club to "understand all of the ways in which the cap might have been breached", but suggested no further penalties would be imposed.
"The NRL issued its penalties earlier this year on the basis that the admissions we had at the time warranted those outcomes," NRL boss David Gallop said.
"At the time it was made clear there was every likelihood that the size of the breaches may actually grow with further investigation. The Deloitte report was a part of News Limited's investigation in their capacity as owners of the club.
"At the time we said that we believed it likely the numbers in the report would be accurate but also made it clear we were not there to accept the report.
"We said we would review it and complete our investigations which are needed to understand all of the ways in which the cap may have been breached.
"It is already clear that we are providing some information to the Agent Accreditation Committee and it is important in determining that the club is under the cap in 2011 that we know every aspect of what has gone on in the past.
"The NRL will continue to make a number of inquiries which may include discussions with players."
It's likely that Schubert will interview the players midway through next week, prior to their annual season ball on Friday, September 9.
Link: http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...ap-investigation/story-e6frexnr-1225912089723
salary cap investigation
EXCLUSIVE by Josh Massoud
The Daily Telegraph
August 31, 2010
MELBOURNE players and officials remain under a salary cap cloud,
with the NRL reopening its investigation into the rorts that have
already cost the Storm two premierships and the chance to
compete for points this season.
New investigation ... Greg Inglis. Source: Getty Images
The Daily Telegraph can reveal that NRL salary cap auditor Ian Schubert has been in contact with Storm officials to arrange interviews with selected players following this weekend's final round.
Schubert has also sent a memo to the Rugby League Players Association stating that the NRL is yet to "clear" any individuals.
His warning comes nearly two months after a Deloitte report commissioned by club owner News Limited (publisher of The Daily Telegraph) found no evidence to support that any players knew about the scams.
In the RLPA memo, dated August 25, Schubert writes: "It is not correct to state that the Melbourne Storm players have been cleared of any wrongdoing ... the NRL's investigation of the extent (if any) to which players (as well as others within the club) were involved in the avoidance of the salary cap is still in progress.
"Although we hope to complete the investigation in the coming weeks, the position has by no means been reached whereby any of the players may regard themselves as having been cleared."
More than a dozen players were named in the Deloitte report as having received benefits outside the cap. It was also revealed that star trio Greg Inglis, Cameron Smith and Billy Slater all received "side letters" that guaranteed them third-party payments.
The respective managers of both Inglis and Smith, Allan Gainey and Isaac Moses, signed the letters on behalf of their clients and are currently being investigated by their accreditation committee.
The NRL last night confirmed it was reviewing the club to "understand all of the ways in which the cap might have been breached", but suggested no further penalties would be imposed.
"The NRL issued its penalties earlier this year on the basis that the admissions we had at the time warranted those outcomes," NRL boss David Gallop said.
"At the time it was made clear there was every likelihood that the size of the breaches may actually grow with further investigation. The Deloitte report was a part of News Limited's investigation in their capacity as owners of the club.
"At the time we said that we believed it likely the numbers in the report would be accurate but also made it clear we were not there to accept the report.
"We said we would review it and complete our investigations which are needed to understand all of the ways in which the cap may have been breached.
"It is already clear that we are providing some information to the Agent Accreditation Committee and it is important in determining that the club is under the cap in 2011 that we know every aspect of what has gone on in the past.
"The NRL will continue to make a number of inquiries which may include discussions with players."
It's likely that Schubert will interview the players midway through next week, prior to their annual season ball on Friday, September 9.
Link: http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...ap-investigation/story-e6frexnr-1225912089723
