Chris Barrett SMH/ The Age
The NRL has told Parramatta it is a waste of time the two parties engaging over their salary cap blowout while five officials take action in the NSW Supreme Court, confirming the Eels face not playing for competition points even if they are cap compliant.
It is understood members of the Eels hierarchy were due to meet on Thursday with NRL salary cap auditor Jamie L'Oste Brown to thrash out how they might cut $570,000 from their top-25 roster in time for Friday week's match against South Sydney at Pirtek Stadium.
The meeting was called off on Wednesday after the NRL told Parramatta there was no point meeting until the five officials to be deregistered – chairman Steve Sharp, directors Tom Issa and Peter Serrao, chief executive John Boulous and football operations manager Daniel Anderson – stood aside.
The message from the NRL was unequivocal: it didn't matter if Parramatta could get back under the cap in the next eight days, they would still be playing for nothing against the Rabbitohs if Sharp, Issa, Serrao, Boulous and Anderson press on in court.
The five were granted an injunction that let them continue in their roles until the matter returned to court on Friday but, with the NRL having not yet received a statement of claim from the plaintiffs – due at headquarters on Thursday – the dispute could drag on beyond this week.
If it does, it threatens the Eels' capacity to play for points, no matter what their adjusted salary cap position. A NRL spokesman reiterated the Eels would not be eligible to accrue any points until the club officials accepted the decision to rescind their registrations.
A Parramatta spokesman wouldn't comment on the cancelled meeting, saying only that having the team playing for points was the top priority. Sources said they were with their legal team on Wednesday night.
While discussions between the NRL and Parramatta were at a standstill, League Central had by Wednesday night also not received any paperwork on Anthony Watmough, who the Eels hoped could be ruled by the code's chief medical officer, Paul Bloomfield, as having a career-ending injury.
Watmough's subsequent retirement would be central to the Eels' bid to get back under the cap quickly, although they might have to lose other players.
Earlier, Parramatta admitted it was over the cap and was working to address the situation. If they can't find a solution in time, the intra-city blockbuster against Souths will be futile.
"The Parramatta Eels are working as a priority to ensure the club is salary cap compliant in time for next week's Round 10 game against the South Sydney Rabbitohs," the club said in a statement said.
"The process is being led by former NRL salary cap auditor and club consultant, Ian Schubert, in accordance with NRL requirements.
"The club recognises that being salary cap compliant and able to accrue competition points is essential for the Parramatta Eels playing group, members and supporters, and the game of rugby league."
Replies
Seems the logical thing. Stand down for the sake of points then pursue legal redress if you think you have been wronged.
I hope they help fix this message and then prior to get game agaisnt South's they all fuck off
Totally against the NRL blackmailing the club but for the good of everyone these failures have to step down. At first I thought it might be best for the club if they were still able to sort the cap out but now it is clear that they must walk away now so the club and the NRL can rebuild the relationship.
I'm all for the NRL using whatever tactics they like to remove the officials in question. Could you imagine if they didn't do anything and our current board remained?
The selfishness of Sharp and his cronies amazes me, their true colours have certainly been shown the last couple of weeks.
The players, staff and whole entire fanbase are hurting and all they can think of doing is trying to save their own skins. Sickens me it truly does.
I as a passionate Eels fan and Member am grateful to the NRL for putting this to the club, these blokes have to go, there has been problems with the club for a long time under these people, it's time now for it to stop and start fresh
was just re iterated by Greenberg on the footy show, that while these board members are still there no matter how compliant we are cap wise, we cannot accrue points. was said 3 or 4 times. Was also said that if their is no resolution at the injunction Friday, it could drag on for a number of weeks, each week robbing us of a chance for points & a chance to play finals footy. These 5 have got to walk. Sterlo, Wynn all said the same & as Sterlo said it's hard to say as he won a premiership with Sharp & he knows them all but for the good of the club, the fans & the players, hey have to go.
For all we know, the eels could be salary cap compliant in 2016 and the NRL are simply blackmailing the club into pleading guilty to avoid its own disgrace, and what better way to do that then to single out 5 of the board and revoke their licenses.
It's absolutely perfect from the NRL.
Make out to the public that they are the saviours in all this, while discretely not disclosing any information as to the findings and or breaches.
Sometimes your in a fight that you just can't win, it's time to walk away, cut your loses and move on. The aim of the NRL is to rid the club of shonky officials.
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