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Parramatta Leagues Club board sacked, administrator appointed

Gronk

Moderator
Staff member
Messages
77,704
Firstly, the involvement of the fraud squad doesn't necessarily imply that they suspect the agents of fraud....they may be seeking evidence relating to potential charges against other parties (i.e. people associated with our club). But, assuming agents sign of on player declarations regarding TPAs etc, then they could have suspicions regarding a breech of the Oaths Act. And they could have suspicions of fraudulent activity more broadly, if they believe that agents have acted deceptively to obtain a benefit (note....the agent gets a cut of their players' negotiated remuneration). So, for instance, deliberately concealing/misrepresenting the true amount of a release payment to enable their player to take up a lucrative deal overseas could get them in trouble (though I doubt that would stick.).

I wonder if our man Seward is sleeping well at night ? Seems Sharpy was happy to throw him under the bus. Perhaps he is part of it was well.
 

Noise

Coach
Messages
18,171
It also wouldn't surprise me if the Administrator chooses to settle out of court with Hopoate, essentially probably meaning that his payout will be included in the salary cap though.

Chipmunk back in july looks to have been spot on
 

Gronk

Moderator
Staff member
Messages
77,704
Up to 10 NRL player managers face possible criminal prosecution after police raids

Roy Masters

Up to 10 player managers, representing most of rugby league's elite players, face possible criminal prosecution and NRL de-registration, following a joint NSW Police/Integrity Unit investigation into the Parramatta salary cap breaches.

Four prominent player managers – Wayne Beavis, Sam Ayoub, George Mimis and Paul Sutton – have already been served with police warrants during a State Crime Command's Strike Force Rhodium operation on Thursday, when their premises were raided and information taken away.

Fraud squad police raid the offices of four NRL player managers over the Parramatta Eels salary cap scandal.
It has been speculated six agents were on the NRL hit list but Fairfax Media understands RL Central is scrutinising the role of up to 10 player managers, representing a significant proportion of the game's players and, potentially, athletes from other sports.

NSW Police recently announced two very significant and high-profile investigations into rugby league – player managers and match fixing – with a third, serious fiduciary breaches by Parramatta officials, continuing. The resources police dedicated to Thursday's raid on the offices and premises of the four player managers indicate the seriousness they attach to the three enquiries.

If it all comes to nought, it will be an embarrassing backdown by a police force with multiple demands on its resources.

On the other hand, there is a strong chance of criminal prosecution against the five Parramatta officials already de-registered by the NRL, following exposure of multiple salary cap breaches, together with action against serving officials. Prosecution of player managers would follow.

If it is established that a significant number of agents have breached their obligations under the existing Player Management Accreditation code, it can be assumed the Rugby League Players Association and the NRL will combine to push through a new scheme for agents.

It is expected this will be fiercely opposed by a number of long-standing player managers who have already hinted at retaliation by exposing alleged salary cap breaches committed by former club chief executives.

However, the Herald understands NRL Integrity chief Nick Weeks has been given unfettered powers to investigate all player managers and his independence was demonstrated in Thursday's police raid when he was the only NRL official to be briefed ahead of the sting.

The NRL has less control over agents, compared to players and club officials, including reduced access to documents and records.

The NRL is not responsible for monitoring or enforcing agents' rules. This is the duty of a Player Manager Accreditation committee, headed by Paul Massey.

Ultimately, it is this committee that will decide if disciplinary measures will be taken against one or more agents, but it will be the NRL that provides the evidence to lay the charges and impose the penalties.

Hence the co-operation between the NRL and the NSW Police for Weeks to provide a brief to Massey, which will withstand legal challenge.

While rugby league's senior agents will have the credibility and support of their clients to oppose heightened regulation of their activities, it will be lost if it is proven they have breached the rules.

It is possible some leading players may already have decided to sever their management agreements.

The existing agent accreditation scheme has not been changed since revelations of the 2010 Melbourne Storm salary cap breaches when a small number of player managers – Isaac Moses, David Riolo, Allan Gainey and Mimis – were sanctioned.

Gainey was cautioned but the other three were banned for only six months, while Storm players were stripped of two major premierships, required to play for no points and many forced to leave the club.

There is residual anger in Melbourne over the slap-on-the-wrist penalties to the agents, compared to the sledgehammer blow to the club and its players.

Conspiracy theories about agents, Parramatta and the NRL have been swirling for months with one being that Beavis was targeted as the sacrificial lamb, given his age and his reduced management list. It was speculated this was aborted when Beavis agreed to land star client, Jarryd Hayne with the Gold Coast Titans, a club the NRL controls and seeks to make competitive in the Gold Coast marketplace.

Beavis rejects this scenario as lunacy, adding: "I had no dealings whatsoever with the NRL over Jarryd going to the Titans."


NRL action against the player managers is not imminent. In the same way the NRL took time to assemble a case against the Parramatta officials that successfully withstood legal challenge, the Integrity Unit will not be rushed, aware there will inevitably be lawyers and litigation.

http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/...ution-after-police-raids-20161022-gs8hs2.html
 

Captain BF

Juniors
Messages
1,973

Happy MEel

First Grade
Messages
9,858
I hope this doesn't start another player agent backlash against the club, particularly if any of the gang of five have thrown them under the bus.
 
Messages
12,177
It is expected this will be fiercely opposed by a number of long-standing player managers who have already hinted at retaliation by exposing alleged salary cap breaches committed by former club chief executives.

thank them for coming forward with the information then charge them with being accessories after the fact
 

T.S Quint

Coach
Messages
14,595
player managers threatening to expose cheating at other clubs is hardly worrying for the NRL unless they have dirt on Toddles
It will be pretty worrying for the NRL if it turns out every team that has won the Premiership over the last decade has been massively cheating the cap.
Would not be a good look at all.
 

Suitman

Post Whore
Messages
55,983
It will be pretty worrying for the NRL if it turns out every team that has won the Premiership over the last decade has been massively cheating the cap.
Would not be a good look at all.

The NRL won't go there.
They told us everything was squeaky clean, remember?
 
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