NRL thread

[mightytiges]

If there was any truth to this it would be a free kick to the AFL on Gold Coast. GC17 comes in with both the NRL and A-league teams in crisis.

Interesting that the NRL wants to expand into the Central Coast (hardly expansion as it's RL heartland) and have another go in Perth where it failed once before. The NRL doesn't really have the funds to support a Perth side if it struggles. There'll be no News Ltd to prop it up as it does the Storm. They're obviously counting on a substancial increase in $$$ from tv rights. It's certainly getting a very crowded sporting market amongst the football codes.

[one-eyed]

Melbourne Storm salary cap breaches total $3.17m since 2006
 
    * From: AAP, Herald Sun
    * July 15, 2010 UPDATE 1pm:

FIVE managers have been identified by News Limited chairman John Hartigan as the "rats in the ranks" that orchestrated a $3.17m salary cap rort at Melbourne Storm.

Mr Hartigan said the investigation identified five managers who were involved in cheating the system, labelling them "rats in the ranks''.

He named former chief executive Brian Waldron, as well as Matt Hanson, Paul Gregory, Peter O'Sullivan and Cameron Vale.

Mr Hartigan said 13 players - including seven current members of the squad - had received payments or benefits from third parties that fell outside the cap.

He said there was no evidence to suggest the players had known the payments could contribute to the club breaching the salary cap.

The players named were Billy Slater, Cameron Smith, Greg Inglis, Cooper Cronk, Ryan Hoffman, Anthony Quinn and Brett White and former players Dallas Johnson, Will Chambers, Mick Crocker, Matt Geyer, Steve Turner and Antonio Kaufusi.

"Regrettably not one of the players agreed to co-operate with the investigation," Mr Hartigan said. "In my view it's totally unacceptable.

"I'm pleased to confirm that (coach) Craig Bellamy did co-operate with News Ltd's investigators.'' He added that Mr Bellamy was unaware of any wrongdoing.

Mr Hartigan said the main method used to conceal extra payments to players was through third party payments, from companies including the Unity Foundation and the McManus Group.

However, he said there was no evidence to suggest these companies knew the payments could contribute to a salary cap breach.

Full article here:
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/nrl/melbourne-storm-rort-report-to-shock-nation-john-hartigan/story-e6frfgbo-1225892035886

[mightytiges]

The NRL salary cap is $4.5m I believe so the Storm are 33% over the cap  . Hard to see the Storm now holding onto their star players if they have to make such a huge cut to get back under the cap. No star players means less wins and bandwagon fans will drop off. Not good for NRL in Melbourne no matter what Gallop says.

[FNM]

Not sure why they sacked the independent directors, Peter Maher being my ex boss and Petra a work colleague.
If they've done nothing wrong, why were they dismissed?

[WilliamPowell]

Not sure why they sacked the independent directors, Peter Maher being my ex boss and Petra a work colleague.
If they've done nothing wrong, why were they dismissed?

Hmmm call me cynical......

But I reckon it has something to do with the fact the News Limited who own the Storm and control half of the NRL are trying to rid themselves of any blame in this. Easiets way to do that is have the independant go so they can't say anything about New Limited

News Limited's handling of this latest report by Deliottes and the way they've leaked it to themsleves is nothing short of disgraceful but at the same time sums them up beautiful IMO

[FNM]

Not sure why they sacked the independent directors, Peter Maher being my ex boss and Petra a work colleague.
If they've done nothing wrong, why were they dismissed?

Hmmm call me cynical......

But I reckon it has something to do with the fact the News Limited who own the Storm and control half of the NRL are trying to rid themselves of any blame in this. Easiets way to do that is have the independant go so they can't say anything about New Limited

News Limited's handling of this latest report by Deliottes and the way they've leaked it to themsleves is nothing short of disgraceful but at the same time sums them up beautiful IMO

Sums up my thoughts pretty much 

[cub]

Just reading through the articles today made me realsie how absolutely devestated I would be if this were Richmond.
I jumped on the storm wagon day one and I was growing to love the club, still support them and will follow them but this has sort of left me non plussed, just don't really know how to justify to myself the success they have had, knowing that other teams aren't all squeaky clean helps a bit.
Gunna be a tough couple of years for the storm and good on Bellamy for sticking it out, hope we come out the other end and stick it up them all over again.

JUST GLAD IT WASN'T MY TIGERS - WOULDN'T KNOW HOW TO DEAL WITH THAT AT ALL !!!!!!

[mightytiges]

Just reading through the articles today made me realsie how absolutely devestated I would be if this were Richmond.
I jumped on the storm wagon day one and I was growing to love the club, still support them and will follow them but this has sort of left me non plussed, just don't really know how to justify to myself the success they have had, knowing that other teams aren't all squeaky clean helps a bit.
Gunna be a tough couple of years for the storm and good on Bellamy for sticking it out, hope we come out the other end and stick it up them all over again.

JUST GLAD IT WASN'T MY TIGERS - WOULDN'T KNOW HOW TO DEAL WITH THAT AT ALL !!!!!!

We came pretty close in 1990 

Although it was due to mismanagement and incompetence rather than League imposed penalties for systematic cheating, we came pretty close to our mid 1980s' directors and administrators killing off Richmond by losing our best players (they walked out) and us losing $1.5m in 1985 (equivalent to losing $15m in today's terms relative to revenue). It screwed us up for 25 years financially and in terms of lack of modern training infrastructure, the effects of which we are still dealing with and only now just catching up to the other clubs. If it wasn't for our supporters putting their hands in their pockets Richmond would've ceased to exist in October 1990.

[mightytiges]

It's going to be sad no longer seeing Inglis with the Storm. The Broncos have done well effectively replacing Falou with Inglis in the same role.

[tugga]

Inglis is horribly overrated. Did you see him stuff almost everything he did up yesterday against the Rabbits? Great player when on song, but that only seems to be in rep games. Best possible outcome was for him to leave and keep three better players and also resign Manu, Neilson and Blair.

[mightytiges]

Inglis is horribly overrated. Did you see him stuff almost everything he did up yesterday against the Rabbits? Great player when on song, but that only seems to be in rep games. Best possible outcome was for him to leave and keep three better players and also resign Manu, Neilson and Blair.

The Storm will miss Inglis from a publicity/marketing p.o.v.

[Chuck17]

Those league boys at the roosters are all class,

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/new-disgrace-as-rooster-rookies-defecate-in-hotel/story-e6frexnr-1225916767285

YOU just can't believe it.

A year after Nate Myles was suspended for six matches and fined $50,000 for defecating in a hotel, two more Sydney Roosters players have performed the same disgusting and vile act.

The Roosters yesterday sacked Toyota Cup players Sam Brunton and Anthony Gelling, who are accused of defecating on tables and the floor of rooms at the Holiday Inn, Townsville, last weekend.

The Roosters were in North Queensland to play the Cowboys last Saturday night.

A cleaner claimed the rooms were "disgusting, absolutely disgusting".

The club issued a media statement yesterday but attempted to cover up the players' names and their repulsive, shameful indiscretion.

[mightytiges]

Those league boys at the roosters are all class,

Alcohol and moronic footballers don't mix

[mightytiges]

A Saints side finally won a Grand Final this week  .

Congrats to tiga's dragons. Hopefully breaking a 31 year drought is an omen for Richmond  .

[mightytiges]

Sounds like the Bunnies are getting serious. First snatching Inglis away from the Broncos and now the word is Wayne Bennett may leave St George to coach them  .