Mark^Bastard
Great White
Agree 100%
Salary Cap Sanctions Guessing Game
- Thread starter Mr Ryan
- Start date
Agree 100%
So despite handing down the penalties, and promising to increase fines, The NRL has failed to solve the issue.
They need to knock down and rebuild the salary cap department. For all we know we would have gotten away with it if we didn't report it, and I'm sure there are plenty of other clubs walking this same line.
Whatever $$ they have pocketed from us and the Tigers, and any future clubs, they need to put towards investigating these caps.
Have a current cap team, who make sure all teams are compliant for the current season.
Have a historical cap team, who can look into previous seasons and give it a second going over.
And have a black ops team who investigate solid intel, without the clubs knowing.
This would stop cheating quicker than a fine
They need to knock down and rebuild the salary cap department. For all we know we would have gotten away with it if we didn't report it, and I'm sure there are plenty of other clubs walking this same line.
Whatever $$ they have pocketed from us and the Tigers, and any future clubs, they need to put towards investigating these caps.
Have a current cap team, who make sure all teams are compliant for the current season.
Have a historical cap team, who can look into previous seasons and give it a second going over.
And have a black ops team who investigate solid intel, without the clubs knowing.
This would stop cheating quicker than a fine
Liquidator
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This is the problem. They don’t even acknowledge the root cause let alone tackle them.
Sir Chadley
Jaws
I heard the NRL reported something like a $42M surplus for the last financial year.
Added to that all these fines.
I’m sorry if this is a bit off topic, but can someone tell me if they are that flush with funds why are they not putting more into grass roots?
How much would it cost them to cover all junior registration costs?
I honestly have no idea but it wouldn’t be $42m surely.
This salary cap fiasco is only the tip of the iceberg in showing how incompetent the NRL are.
It proves just how good the game of Rugby League is.
People aren’t happy with how the NRL is run but fans still come to the games, buy memberships, Pay TV subscriptions, merchandise etc.
Added to that all these fines.
I’m sorry if this is a bit off topic, but can someone tell me if they are that flush with funds why are they not putting more into grass roots?
How much would it cost them to cover all junior registration costs?
I honestly have no idea but it wouldn’t be $42m surely.
This salary cap fiasco is only the tip of the iceberg in showing how incompetent the NRL are.
It proves just how good the game of Rugby League is.
People aren’t happy with how the NRL is run but fans still come to the games, buy memberships, Pay TV subscriptions, merchandise etc.
Sparkles
Jaws
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This whole issue around moving playes on will be easily solved, so that's one less thing to worry about.
Flanno will sign with an English club, and then sign a couple of players we want to move on to get us under the cap.
Once again, bravo Flanno.
Flanno will sign with an English club, and then sign a couple of players we want to move on to get us under the cap.
Once again, bravo Flanno.
Liquidator
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They may need the 42m if players are found not guilty, I suspect lawyers will have field day if they signed their contract pre “no fault” rule implementation
sharks2010
Dribbler
I have the sneaky suspicion that the club knew what was coming hence the segeyaro announcement. I must say its a good outcome if it is ava we let go and its business as usual. Really is a slap on the wrist
Also I'll add, I love how we've gone from everyone's second favourite team to one of if not the most hated teams in the comp
Also I'll add, I love how we've gone from everyone's second favourite team to one of if not the most hated teams in the comp
Mr Ryan
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I think with the way the way the TV deal is structured the NRL makes more profit in the early years and as it goes on makes less and less.
So naturally they are big noteing themselves this year, but the profit will even out over the 5 years.
So naturally they are big noteing themselves this year, but the profit will even out over the 5 years.
Western Sharkie
Jaws
They will make it up from all the salary cap fines they are planning to charge over the next few years to make up the deminishing revenue.
Mark^Bastard
Great White
The NRL lost money previously so don't look at a good year in isolation. They may have loans to pay back.
As for the salary cap, all players should be employed directly by the NRL and clubs shouldn't be able to pay them or have anything to do with player sponsorship. But that won't happen so at least automatically audit every grand finalist every year.
As for the salary cap, all players should be employed directly by the NRL and clubs shouldn't be able to pay them or have anything to do with player sponsorship. But that won't happen so at least automatically audit every grand finalist every year.
snowman
Total gronk
He will be on our roster this year at some time
Western Sharkie
Jaws
Only if we have cap space to allow it
to do what, carry the water? he wasnt good enough anymore for the dogs first grade, he hasnt a hope of making our first grade team
the jets sign plenty of players who have nothing to do with the sharks
egg
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A few interesting bits in this article
SOURCE: Reddit
The Cronulla Sharks are the club that never learns. It’s certainly a club that struggles to play by the rules.
From the injection of prohibited substances that led to most of their players being suspended in 2014 to coach Shane Flanagan being sacked late last year for defying the rules of his suspension, the Sharks now face two years of hell after being caught out trying to cheat the salary cap.
At the heart of the NRL’s decision on Friday to fine Cronulla $1.25 million and have $707,000 shaved off their salary cap for the next two seasons was the club’s attempt to pay players undeclared third-party agreements through a separate company.
It did this the year after it won the 2016 premiership. It did this just months after Parramatta were stripped of 12 competition points, fined $1 million and had a raft of officials sacked over the cheating of the salary cap.
It is either arrogance or incompetence or both.
The Sharks have accepted the NRL’s penalties and, according to NRL chief operating officer Nick Weeks, “accepted and acknowledged” the establishment of the company to pay illegal third-party agreements.
“The extent of the promises over the period we were looking at were over $750,000,” Weeks said. “Most of those promises weren’t honoured. The club embarked on a program that begun in earnest in 2017 to set up a structure to procure third-party agreements to players. They did that through a separate company. It was set up with the endorsement of the club, funded by a director, and was used to arrange third-party agreements for their players.”
The Herald can reveal that company was Connection 2 Sports, which is operated by the Sharks’ former sponsorship and commercial manager Luke Edmonds.
He was adamant when contacted on Friday he had not done anything wrong and was mystified that the Sharks had been heavily penalised — even if the club had accepted the NRL's penalties.
“At no stage did any director of the club give me direction or funding to set up my business,” Edmonds said. “[They] certainly didn’t give me any direction to chase third-party deals. To this day, I’m not aware or privy to any player being owed third-party money. There has never been a transaction made from Connection 2 Sports to a player. Every introduction I’ve ever made has been approved and registered by the game.
“I went in to the NRL last week off my own bat. I was keen to go in there because I wanted to clear a few things up. Everyone knows there’s been plenty of chat around in relation to my business being involved.
“It’s funny: when I went to the NRL and explained how my business operates, they suggested I was 100 percent compliant. I know the rules inside out and back to front. I know exactly how it works.”
Not everyone at Cronulla seems to know.
The salary cap is in place to create parity across the 16 clubs so the rich don’t get richer and poor don’t always get the wooden spoon.
Under the rules of the game, third-party agreements must be at arm’s length from the club, otherwise they must be counted towards its salary cap.
Only the naive would believe that some clubs aren't better at hiding them than others but given this was a deliberate and orchestrated attempt by the Sharks to keep the nucleus of their grand-final winning side together, surely they have got off lightly?
The only reason they haven’t been slugged further is because chief executive Barry Russell came in last year and self-reported minor salary cap discrepancies dating back to 2013.
Whether the 1988 Rothman’s Medallist is a messiah or pariah depends on your viewpoint.
If not for Russell’s honesty, the Sharks could’ve expected a larger sanction. If not for Russell’s honesty, the NRL might never have known about any of this and we're focussing instead on Dylan Napa's Big Papi videos (for which the Canterbury recruit has been fined).
“We expect clubs when they identify misconduct to come forward and inform the NRL,” Weeks said. “We want them to self-report. Barry Russell did that. If not for him, the sanction we imposed today would’ve been much larger.”
Said NRL chief executive Todd Greenberg: “We might not have known at this point in time, but there’s nothing more certain that we would’ve found it at some point. And when we found it the consequences would’ve been much harsher.”
Russell is being blamed by many in his own club for the dire state the embattled Sharks find themselves in. Others says he's tried to resign three times but the club won't let him go. Yes, it's all very Cronulla.
While the Sharks board, headed by chairman Dino Mezzatesta, is charged with keeping the club going, others have seemingly walked away with impunity.
Several directors are no longer involved with the game. It's understood one director resigned the day before he was due to meet integrity unit investigators about this matter.
Former chief executive Lyall Gorman, who is now at Manly, has also escaped reprimand with Weeks denying he had been given "immunity" in exchange for information about the seedy dealings of his former club. Gorman had no comment when contacted on Friday afternoon.
Greenberg also warned that the day was coming when players and their agents will be sanctioned for their role in salary cap dodging.
That day, like every other salary cap scandal day, wasn't yesterday.
SOURCE: Reddit
The Cronulla Sharks are the club that never learns. It’s certainly a club that struggles to play by the rules.
From the injection of prohibited substances that led to most of their players being suspended in 2014 to coach Shane Flanagan being sacked late last year for defying the rules of his suspension, the Sharks now face two years of hell after being caught out trying to cheat the salary cap.
At the heart of the NRL’s decision on Friday to fine Cronulla $1.25 million and have $707,000 shaved off their salary cap for the next two seasons was the club’s attempt to pay players undeclared third-party agreements through a separate company.
It did this the year after it won the 2016 premiership. It did this just months after Parramatta were stripped of 12 competition points, fined $1 million and had a raft of officials sacked over the cheating of the salary cap.
It is either arrogance or incompetence or both.
The Sharks have accepted the NRL’s penalties and, according to NRL chief operating officer Nick Weeks, “accepted and acknowledged” the establishment of the company to pay illegal third-party agreements.
“The extent of the promises over the period we were looking at were over $750,000,” Weeks said. “Most of those promises weren’t honoured. The club embarked on a program that begun in earnest in 2017 to set up a structure to procure third-party agreements to players. They did that through a separate company. It was set up with the endorsement of the club, funded by a director, and was used to arrange third-party agreements for their players.”
The Herald can reveal that company was Connection 2 Sports, which is operated by the Sharks’ former sponsorship and commercial manager Luke Edmonds.
He was adamant when contacted on Friday he had not done anything wrong and was mystified that the Sharks had been heavily penalised — even if the club had accepted the NRL's penalties.
“At no stage did any director of the club give me direction or funding to set up my business,” Edmonds said. “[They] certainly didn’t give me any direction to chase third-party deals. To this day, I’m not aware or privy to any player being owed third-party money. There has never been a transaction made from Connection 2 Sports to a player. Every introduction I’ve ever made has been approved and registered by the game.
“I went in to the NRL last week off my own bat. I was keen to go in there because I wanted to clear a few things up. Everyone knows there’s been plenty of chat around in relation to my business being involved.
“It’s funny: when I went to the NRL and explained how my business operates, they suggested I was 100 percent compliant. I know the rules inside out and back to front. I know exactly how it works.”
Not everyone at Cronulla seems to know.
The salary cap is in place to create parity across the 16 clubs so the rich don’t get richer and poor don’t always get the wooden spoon.
Under the rules of the game, third-party agreements must be at arm’s length from the club, otherwise they must be counted towards its salary cap.
Only the naive would believe that some clubs aren't better at hiding them than others but given this was a deliberate and orchestrated attempt by the Sharks to keep the nucleus of their grand-final winning side together, surely they have got off lightly?
The only reason they haven’t been slugged further is because chief executive Barry Russell came in last year and self-reported minor salary cap discrepancies dating back to 2013.
Whether the 1988 Rothman’s Medallist is a messiah or pariah depends on your viewpoint.
If not for Russell’s honesty, the Sharks could’ve expected a larger sanction. If not for Russell’s honesty, the NRL might never have known about any of this and we're focussing instead on Dylan Napa's Big Papi videos (for which the Canterbury recruit has been fined).
“We expect clubs when they identify misconduct to come forward and inform the NRL,” Weeks said. “We want them to self-report. Barry Russell did that. If not for him, the sanction we imposed today would’ve been much larger.”
Said NRL chief executive Todd Greenberg: “We might not have known at this point in time, but there’s nothing more certain that we would’ve found it at some point. And when we found it the consequences would’ve been much harsher.”
Russell is being blamed by many in his own club for the dire state the embattled Sharks find themselves in. Others says he's tried to resign three times but the club won't let him go. Yes, it's all very Cronulla.
While the Sharks board, headed by chairman Dino Mezzatesta, is charged with keeping the club going, others have seemingly walked away with impunity.
Several directors are no longer involved with the game. It's understood one director resigned the day before he was due to meet integrity unit investigators about this matter.
Former chief executive Lyall Gorman, who is now at Manly, has also escaped reprimand with Weeks denying he had been given "immunity" in exchange for information about the seedy dealings of his former club. Gorman had no comment when contacted on Friday afternoon.
Greenberg also warned that the day was coming when players and their agents will be sanctioned for their role in salary cap dodging.
That day, like every other salary cap scandal day, wasn't yesterday.
Capital_Shark
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That article (originally from Webster at SMH) makes me wonder what we did so wrong.
A separate company connecting players to TPAs - its hardly the ****ing Thoroughbreds. If Edmonds got the green light from NRL what exactly is the issue?
Even with that fat pole smoker Webster trying to make out like we got off lightly, I'm less convinced.
A separate company connecting players to TPAs - its hardly the ****ing Thoroughbreds. If Edmonds got the green light from NRL what exactly is the issue?
Even with that fat pole smoker Webster trying to make out like we got off lightly, I'm less convinced.
It's a guessing game what constitutes breaking the rules. Like you said Brisbane have the Inbreds lining up lucrative deals with total immunity, and then you have Tigers being done over for a ambassador deal, that was widely reported on, and never happened
Cage
Bull Shark
No wonder this club keeps finding itself up to it's eyebrows in a big heap of brown smelly stuff.
I wonder at the mentality level of those who think that cheating is OK, as long as you don't get caught. Well we weren't that clever, were we? On a stupidity level of 1 to 10, this club was right up near the top of the scale.
And when someone comes along and tries to introduce honesty and integrity into the way the Sharks conduct their business, what happens? The bogan and moron minority want to bring him down. "Faarrkk, that's not the way we do things at the Sharkies" is their catch cry. Well people, the times are changing and Rugby League has moved into the digital age so get used to it.
The reports of Barry Russell attempting to resign are disturbing, and I can only assume that he is being subject to castigation and vilification by the moronic minority of club members. He has provided the club with a clean platform to build on, and hopefully has got rid of all the skeletons and sealed up the closets.
Let Barry Russell know he has our support, and f*** the morons who want the good 'ole day to continue because if they do, this clubs days are numbered.
Capital_Shark
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What's that bold **** even mean in relation to us (or anything, really)? Is the digital age somehow more requiring of honesty and integrity?
The rest is moralistic crap. NRL is cut throat and those who push the rules best win. The owner of the company we got in strife for reckons it's 100% compliant and he's been told so by the NRL. It sounds at least as legit as Brisbane's Thoroughbreds. But that doesn't matter, Greenberg said himself he's not concerned about being consistent, so we'll just hope he doesn't get in a bad mood with us I guess. It's a crooked shambles of a competition run by ****wits who chop and change rules, policy and punishment on the whim of the media. I'm fine with having contempt for their rules.