Nrl - Melbourne Storm

[troy8]

Today, the Melbourne Storm club who compete in the National Rugby League competition here in Australia, were found to have been 1.7 Million Dollars over the salary cap, and were consequently stripped of 2 Premierships (2007,2009) and 3 Minor Premierships (2006,2007,2008). They have been fined a massive 1.6 Million, which includes the 1.1 Million in prize money they owe, and an extra $500,000. They were also stripped of all their competition points this season and won't be awarded any more competition points this season for games they win.

 

Bit harsh, numbers might not seem like much compared to the Premier League but still this is pretty big in Australia at the moment, and could ultimately lead to the end of the club. Thoughts?

[MikeO]

Thoughts?

They shouldn't have broken the rules, they must have known they were doing it so it's called cheating. Shame for the fans but I've no sympathy at all for the club.

[Lowensda]

Like Mike said, rules are rules. And at the end of the day, to over shoot a cap by 1.7 million

they can't argue they didn't notice, a couple of thousand maybe but when you're talking that amount of money, you must have known what was happenening...we'd all love it if the shite were found to be doing similar dealings and we'd all accept it if Everton were swindling some money. Cheating is cheating. Rules are put in place for a reason! (And before some smart-ass says it, no rules aren't put in to be broken, you rebel )

[Romey 1878]

So are Leeds now the World Club Champions?

[Guest Reg Reagan]

Like Mike said, rules are rules. And at the end of the day, to over shoot a cap by 1.7 million

they can't argue they didn't notice, a couple of thousand maybe but when you're talking that amount of money, you must have known what was happenening...we'd all love it if the shite were found to be doing similar dealings and we'd all accept it if Everton were swindling some money. Cheating is cheating. Rules are put in place for a reason! (And before some smart-ass says it, no rules aren't put in to be broken, you rebel )

 

actually it is 1.7million over 5 years.

 

this year they are over the cap by AUD700, 000 whereas the 4 seasons between 06-09 they would have been over by AUD250, 000 for each of those seasons.

 

Who ever their owner is has fucked that club up big time.

[DonKey]

It was the previous guy who got them into all the debt. He's also the same guy that's been giving the flick from the Melbourne Rebels (Super 15 Franchise) if memory serves.

 

I like the Storm, but rules is rules. To be fair, good on the NRL for doing it even they did take their time over it. 2nd big club to be caught after the Bulldogs a few years back. Talking to a few mates and they reckon that salary caps are broken left right and centre in AFL, football and cricket over there.

[Guest Reg Reagan]

I just read this on wikipedia

 

Melbourne Storm are 100% owned by the News Corporation and they also own 50% of the NRL.

 

Conflict of interest much?

[holystove]

News corporation as in Rupert Murdoch? Lol, he won't give a shit about that fine.

[Guest Reg Reagan]

News corporation as in Rupert Murdoch? Lol, he won't give a shit about that fine.

 

its not about the fine.

 

I read this article which was from a few months ago and here is the snippet of it.

 

"With News Limited already having 100% stake of the Melbourne Storm, News Limited CEO John Hartigan is considering selling off the Melbourne Storm once the NRL has established the Independent Commission.

 

Despite the onfield success the Storm have had over the last 5 years under the guidance of Craig Bellamy with 3 minor premierships, 2 NRL premierships with 4 grand final appearances and a World CLub trophy, the Victorian based franchise still has not won the hearts and minds of the strong AFL Melbourne public.

 

The Storm will be waving goodbye to their graveyard which is known as Olympic Park and moving into the new government funded rectangular stadium next door, it is expected the Storm fan base should increase by 10% according to former Storm CEO Brian Waldron.

 

The new stadium will determine to see whether News Limited is ready to sell of the Storm to private owner after News Limited have to cover $8million losses a season."

 

so this means that the storm were established since 1998 and with 12 seasons News Corp have lost a total of $96million (£45million) over those years.

[troy8]

Sorry forgot to add that it was 1.7 Million over 5 years in which the Salary Cap was broken.

 

Basically how they did it was, they ran two sets of books. One book would be the reports given to the NRL in regards to player payments, whilst the other was kept behind closed doors. It was believed a former employee may have given the tip off in regards to the situation, and now a police investigation is going to follow.

 

Either way, fair play to the Storm players and coaches for copping it on the chin and not appealing the penalty, and they've got on with their footy well when you consider yesterday they smashed the New Zealand Warriors 40-6.

[Guest Reg Reagan]

Sorry forgot to add that it was 1.7 Million over 5 years in which the Salary Cap was broken.

 

Basically how they did it was, they ran two sets of books. One book would be the reports given to the NRL in regards to player payments, whilst the other was kept behind closed doors. It was believed a former employee may have given the tip off in regards to the situation, and now a police investigation is going to follow.

 

Either way, fair play to the Storm players and coaches for copping it on the chin and not appealing the penalty, and they've got on with their footy well when you consider yesterday they smashed the New Zealand Warriors 40-6.

 

im not sure how the NRL salary cap works... its very different to our one we have in the ESL