Parramatta Eels: Club can’t dodge the blame over salary cap problems, says John Quayle

April 12, 2016 5:00amEXCLUSIVE Nick Tabakoff Editor-at-Large The Daily TelegraphTHE man who created the NRL salary cap, former boss John Quayle, says the board of the Parramatta Eels is “living in fantasyland” by trying to blame former management for its salary cap problems.“Any board of directors these days that gives a chief executive, a coach, or anyone within the club a license to breach the rules of the game, and then ignores their responsibilities as a board — that’s living in fantasyland,” Mr Quayle last night told The Daily Telegraph.Mr Quayle, one of the most respected administrators in Australian sport and a one-time Eels star player, dismissed attempts by Eels chairman Steve Sharp to offload responsibility for the club’s problems.Mr Sharp put out a statement on Sunday claiming the Eels were “actively reforming” what he saw as the previously flawed governance of the club.“There have clearly been many serious previous problems at the club warranting this reform program,” Mr Sharp said, despite the fact allegations of salary cap flouting have come under his chairmanship of the Eels, which started in 2013.Mr Sharp’s comments coincided with renewed press speculation about the role of ex-Eels CEO Scott Seward in the salary cap scandal.Mr Quayle, who ran rugby league from 1983 to 1996, said the clear evidence of salary cap breaches by the Eels was in keeping with a pattern of clubs in modern NRL history that have tried to outsmart the system through widespread, systemic flouting of cap rules: “You’ll never stop the officials that think they’re smarter than the rules, which are in place to protect us all.“We’ve seen it with the Canterbury Bulldogs’ case (in 2002), in the Melbourne Storm’s case (in 2010) and now in Parramatta’s case. That’s the nature of sport.“But in the end now, with the importance of corporate governance to the modern game, they will always get caught.”Mr Quayle said he had introduced the salary cap in 1990 “to even the competition up, and make it fairer and better for all teams”.He said the “sad part is the people who get most hurt are fans and players, who had no involvement in the breaches.”Over the past five weeks, The Telegraph has established the active role of the Eels board in third-party agreements that flouted NRL salary cap rules. The reports prompted a forensic investigation by the NRL.

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Replies

Kurupt April 12, 2016 at 7:32am

It begins.
This reply was deleted.
- Jimmy April 12, 2016 at 7:48am
  
  Mick not only do you look like a dumb ass but your post confirms everything. The site owner warned people like you only last week that posting of articles like this is fine. If you don't like reading them then fuk off somewhere else with your nancy boy mates.
- Kurupt April 12, 2016 at 7:49am
  
  In Nancy France, all the boys are Nancy Boys.
- Rosemont April 12, 2016 at 6:27pm
  
  Micky go support the Panthers, Who forced you blog on this? Potshot king
Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin 🐐 April 12, 2016 at 7:39am

Couldn't agree more with Quale on this. There's no excuse for Sharps oblivious style of management.
Sayonara Sharpie.
- Robert Lloyd > Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin 🐐 April 12, 2016 at 7:52am
  
  Chief: It is a bit odd John Quale buying into the Eels problems. Quale is attached to Newcastle, is he not, these days? There could an agenda here. Quale owes Fitzgerald more than a favour. Fitzgerald once save Quale`s life when they were swimming in the surf at one time. Is he repaying the debt he owes Fitzgerald?
- Hell On Eels > Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin 🐐 April 12, 2016 at 8:16am
  
  That would be Blasphemy. Quayle is a God.
  
  Was earmarked by Fong as the only man to take over the reins here.
  
  Personally, I'm disappointed, but that's just me.
- Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin 🐐 > Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin 🐐 April 12, 2016 at 8:33am
  
  Mick, before i read the blog, i though it was another Jimmy special.
- tele1 > Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin 🐐 April 12, 2016 at 9:04am
  
  i agree chief - ignorance and/or incompetence is NOT an excuse in the adult world for breaking the rules/law - why should Parra be exempt.
  
  Parra, it seems have been given plenty of second chances yet keep bumbling along
  
  No excuse - I agree
Sir Col "THE NODDY MUSHROOM" April 12, 2016 at 8:01am

"Editor at large" - does that mean he is a fat useless piece of crap having his Dailycrap?

John Quayle - the man who started the downhill slide for Rugby League.

GOD this is getting so boring.