‘Bogus’ finance loan paid for two Cronulla Sharks players

An NRL integrity unit investigation into the Cronulla Sharks salary cap scandal has uncovered an alleged fake invoice scam and a bogus finance loan used to secretly pay two players.

The Sunday Telegraph can reveal investigators plan to quiz former Sharks boss and now Manly Sea Eagles chief executive Lyall Gorman this week about a $100,000 ‘invoice’ from a telecommunications company for equipment and services that were never used or even delivered.

There is no suggestion that Gorman, who was Group CEO at the time, was aware of the invoice or loan. He declined to answer questions from The Sunday Telegraph.

“I will go in to see the Integrity Unit as soon as I possibly can and let the investigation take its course,” he said.

There is no suggestion Jeff Robson or Chris Heighington were involved or aware of any dodgy financial transactions.

He says he has been ill and unable to meet investigators until now.

Documents in possession of the NRL show the Sharks took out a five-year $100,000 loan from a finance company, which they are still paying off in monthly instalments, for the ‘goods’. The phone company Compare Communications has since been deregistered by ASIC.

The company was owned by businessman John Barker.

Barker owns another company, Kryofix, that provides a hyper-cooling chamber for injury treatment for the NSW State of Origin team and other NRL clubs.

He denies any wrongdoing.

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“They (the Sharks) were meant to have all their phones come across to my company but it never happened,” Barker said.

“We haven’t received any money from the Sharks. It point blank hasn’t happened. We might have sent them an invoice but I can categorically deny the Sharks have ever sent us $100,000. We didn’t get one cent from them.”

The Integrity Unit has been investigating the Sharks for five months since chief executive Barry Russell, with the backing of his board, self-reported to the NRL about serious concerns over payments in 2015 to two players who are no longer at the club.

Lyall Gorman says he will meet with the integrity unit soon. Picture: AAP

The two players were halfback Jeff Robson and forward Chris Heighington. There is no suggestion either player was involved or aware of any dodgy financial transactions.

The NRL broadened the investigation and sent a team of auditors to Cronulla where all staff emails relating to player payments were seized.

The integrity unit also interviewed Sharks players and requested the mobile phone records of board members and senior football club staff.

The Sunday Telegraph understands one board member declined to be interviewed and has since stood down as a director.

Cronulla Sharks chairman Dino Mezzatesta. Picture: Brett Costello

The concern for the Sharks is what else may have been uncovered from the internet server and what other staff may be implicated.

However there is no suggestion the 2016 premiership is under threat.

The Sunday Telegraph spoke to the Sharks chairman at the time, Damian Keogh, who has denied any knowledge of salary cap rorting. The NRL hopes to wrap up its investigation before Christmas.

The fact the club self-reported will work heavily in their favour.

An NRL spokesman and Sharks chairman Dino Mezzatesta declined to comment.

https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/teams/sharks/bogus-finance-loan-paid-for-two-cronulla-sharks-players/news-story/4971563bd0b783581af79792e0bdc31b?utm_medium=Facebook&utm_content=SocialFlow&utm_source=TelegraphSport&utm_campaign=EditorialSF

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Replies

Cʜɪᴇғ - November 25, 2018 at 9:31am

Take their premiership. This rivals what happened at Parramatta
iamnot November 25, 2018 at 9:47am

This will pass with no repercussions. The article even says 'the fact the club self-reported will work heavily in their favour'. It's a disgrace, because as you say, it's exactly what Parra did.
Rabz S November 25, 2018 at 10:14am

If they can take the 9s trophy off us, they can certainly take the premiership off them. The fact they are still paying off the "loan" should mean they are punished for the 2019 season too
Rise of an empire November 25, 2018 at 10:24am

Where are all the reporters on a witch hunt like they were with uncovering anything possible on Parra. I guess showing the dirty truth about other clubs doesn't sell as many papers
- macybrown > Rise of an empire November 25, 2018 at 11:07am
  
  Yeah probs why they could only muster up a pic of Robbo in Parra colours... nice jersey tho :)
  - MeelK > macybrown November 25, 2018 at 9:19pm
    
    Macy that is a very interesting point you make. Jeff Robson did actually play for the sharks, there would be plenty of photos of him in a sharks jersey. Why show him in an eels jersey?
fake midget pseudoachondroplasia November 25, 2018 at 10:57am

How isn't the premiership in threat. The players had a contract that covered the premiership year and due to contracts now being front or back loaded it means the whole contract value and length has to be considered. Without the TPA money added and spread over a few years maybe the players would have signed elsewhere.
- This reply was deleted.
  - fake midget pseudoachondroplasia November 25, 2018 at 5:16pm
    
    If self reporting gets a club off I tell the club to spend 15million on a squad to win premiership and then stand down. Find a few people to replace board and self report while fans still celebrate our premiership win
Alan Hunt November 25, 2018 at 4:12pm

This is no different to what we we guilty of, if they have a good look every club is or has done something similar.

They are too terrified to have a decent look because they know the cap could be finished as we know it.
Trent November 25, 2018 at 4:55pm

A petition should be sent to Todd asking for answers