Seward evidence missing from NRL investigation into Eels

THE AUSTRALIANMAY 9, 2016 12:00AMBrent ReadBrad Arthur’s Eels back at training in Parramatta yesterday. Picture: Simon Bullard.Parramatta’s legal team is set to ask the NRL this morning whether crucial pieces of evidence were left out of information forwarded to the club late last week amid suggestions the only sign of former chief executive Scott Seward among the documentation was a lone statement.Seward was believed to be a cornerstone of the NRL investigation into the club’s salary cap breaches but it is understood Eels officials were bemused when they reviewed the documentation and discovered no interview transcript from the club’s former chief executive.Instead, the only information provided in relation to Seward was a single statement signed on May 2 — the day before the NRL handed down sanctions against the club.Seward was only allowed to provide evidence to the NRL after the Eels agreed to relent on a confidentiality clause related to his departure from the club.It is understood Eels directors, including the three who have been singled out by the NRL for their part in the salary cap breaches, devoted much of their weekend to reviewing more than 700 pages of interview transcripts which formed the basis of the NRL’s review of the club.Those three — chairman Steve Sharp, deputy chairman Tom Issa and director Peter Serrao — along with chief executive John Boulous and head of football Daniel Anderson return to the Supreme Court this morning as they continue their legal action against the club.The court case heats up as the club accelerates its attempt to become cap compliant when former salary cap auditor Ian Schubert, now a consultant with the Eels, meets his successor at the NRL Jamie L’oste Brown. Schubert believes the club’s salary cap woes are significantly less than the $570,000 suggested by the NRL. The club has already shaved $70,000 off its cap by allowing centre Ryan Morgan to join Melbourne, but the most pertinent issue remains the possible retirement of backrower Anthony Watmough. Watmough is on a mega-contract with Parramatta and his retirement could ease much of their pain, although that would require the NRL accepting Parramatta’s view that his knee problem is a career-ending injury.Those players not involved in representative football returned to their Parramatta base yesterday, insisting the week off had given them time to freshen up both mentally and physically.They also expressed regret at knowing what their penalty was for cap breaches — the club will be docked 12 premiership points once the provisional sanctions are confirmed early next month.“It’s been hanging over our heads all season,” club captain Tim Mannah said.“The solidarity we’ve showed throughout the whole thing has actually galvanised us and drawn us closer together. It’s not ideal but it’s the cards we’ve been dealt. And we’ve got a team and coaching staff than deal with this.”Mannah was reluctant to criticise the officials who have taken legal action against the NRL — chief executive Todd Greenberg initially suggested the Eels would be unable to play for premiership points while action remained on the table, although the NRL later backed away from that threat.“Hard for us to comment on the boardroom because we don’t know all the details,” he said.“It’s easy for you and I to point our fingers on what we think went wrong. But unless we know exactly what happened it’s no good commenting or throwing our two cents worth in there.”Fullback Michael Gordon said the players didn’t really want to see anyone forced out and the decision on Watmough would largely determine how taxing the scandal is on the club’s roster.“They could take my salary but it’s not much coming off the cap,” Gordon said. “I like to joke about it because there’s no point whingeing or moaning about it. What’s done is done so let’s move forward. All the boys are being really positive and I’m a positive person, so we’ll go from there.“My opinion at the start of the year is that we were capable of playing finals footy and that hasn’t changed,” Gordon said on losing 12 competition points.“Nobody wants this season to go to waste. So we’ll come out with a positive attitude. At least now we know we’re still playing.”http://www.theaustralian.com.au/sport/nrl/seward-evidence-missing-from-nrl-investigation-into-eels/news-story/54e43bbde8a803a2f61eeb323e4847ea

Brissy, interesting that the Australian is in the same company of the SMH & here we have a journo that is reporting a news item that clearly shows no bias in it. What a breath of fresh air.

I am actually now hating the use of the term gang of five, it implies guilt & that is the way its being used against the 5 involved & it also taints the whole board, the club & even the players. I have personally just used the term Five or 5 on account of the number of those so called charged, what they are guilty of or what not will come out, until then I see them as being inept & dumb only based on what has come out, but the evidence will bring a correct verdict I hope.

There is at this point of time too many holes in the charges, & not enough in what can be deemed truth coming from the NRLs side.

The one real positive though is that I believe that this whole saga, has bonded the playing group along with the coach & staffing much tighter than anything else. The resolve they have shown on the field has grown from strength to strength, & seems its getting stronger still.

I have seen the Tim Mannah interview in part on each of the news last night, now it comes out in a national paper, but not in any of the Sydney papers. Nothing in the DT, or SMH, limit this sort of article into the papers that are not as relevant to the main market, to try & show some form of media non bias. Still refreshing though.

"If you are going to do that better off just keeping him in Cup as a break glass option. Unless he is that much of a cancer and that negative to the squad that he needs to go."

Replies

Jpav May 9, 2016 at 8:24am

Seward has to be the worst signing ever.
- Wizardssleeves official receipts > Jpav May 9, 2016 at 9:09am
  
  Hahahahahahaha !!! Makes Watmough look like a masterstroke .
This reply was deleted.
- colin hussey May 9, 2016 at 10:36am
  
  Brissy, interesting that the Australian is in the same company of the SMH & here we have a journo that is reporting a news item that clearly shows no bias in it. What a breath of fresh air.
  
  I am actually now hating the use of the term gang of five, it implies guilt & that is the way its being used against the 5 involved & it also taints the whole board, the club & even the players. I have personally just used the term Five or 5 on account of the number of those so called charged, what they are guilty of or what not will come out, until then I see them as being inept & dumb only based on what has come out, but the evidence will bring a correct verdict I hope.
  
  There is at this point of time too many holes in the charges, & not enough in what can be deemed truth coming from the NRLs side.
  
  The one real positive though is that I believe that this whole saga, has bonded the playing group along with the coach & staffing much tighter than anything else. The resolve they have shown on the field has grown from strength to strength, & seems its getting stronger still.
  
  I have seen the Tim Mannah interview in part on each of the news last night, now it comes out in a national paper, but not in any of the Sydney papers. Nothing in the DT, or SMH, limit this sort of article into the papers that are not as relevant to the main market, to try & show some form of media non bias. Still refreshing though.
- Prof. Daz May 9, 2016 at 10:45am
  
  I suspect we may find down the track that Seward's testimony has some protections normally afforded whistleblowers. The issue there is that while that may infuriate Eels supporters in this case, there is a bigger issue at stake, which is that unless you protect whistleblowers you discourage whistleblowing. Personally, with the way corporations routinely commit environmental and financial malfeasance, I can't help but support whistleblowing in principle, even if it means in this instance my Eels suffer.
- Prof. Daz May 9, 2016 at 8:56pm
  
  BG, if you read section 9 of the Corporations Act 2004, it specifies provisions for redacting whistle blower testimony. You're right that if the whistleblower is also committing illegal acts, their information can be passed on to enforcement agencies, but there is still thusany provisions for having a tight circle accessing that information.
Nutcracker May 9, 2016 at 9:20am

Mate, if Choc's resignation gets us under the cap without losing anyone else then he's the best signing ever.
- BiG G > Nutcracker May 9, 2016 at 10:57am
  
  Agreed!
Outrunna May 9, 2016 at 9:26am

if that is the case then i dont see how the NRL can penalize us.

I dont doubt that there have been some dodgy dealings done by the Eels but this seems like NRL really is hiding something as well.

When the Eels court case goes ahead they need to subpoena the NRL and have all of their transcripts put before the court.

The Eels may end up like Stephen Bradbury. They may yet fall over the line when everything else falls down around them
Muttman May 9, 2016 at 9:27am

Either the nrl give a transcript of that interview willingly or a Judge will surely make them.

So the Eels hand over all computers, phones, laptops etc but then the NRL are only willing to hand back selected segments?
- Nutcracker > Muttman May 9, 2016 at 9:34am
  
  I wonder if this morning's injunction hearing can be widened to consider that issue. Maybe not if the judge wants to concentrate on the injunction but it would be helpful in moving things forward if he did consider it.
  
  Yeah, I'm not really sure on this one. Decision makers need to provide all the information that they've used to make the decision. I've been involved in stuff where they just make reference to the relevant parts of a witness statement. But also seen cases where everything has been annexed. Have we got copies of other individual's statements, I wonder?