I know many of you are sick of the Melbourne Storm - but this story made me sick to my stomach today.

How politically correct has this world become? On Friday night, there was a blanket ban on anything which mentioned the words cheats. In the wake of further allegations that the Storm are even further over the cap than what was once thought and Smith signing not 2, but 3 SEPARATE CONTRACTS, I am not sure what else we can call them?!

But take pride Parramatta Fans in knowing that we absolutely hammered them.

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/smiths-three-contracts/story-e6frexnr-1225875916005

Smith's three contracts

NRL salary cap investigators have discovered champion hooker Cameron Smith had THREE separate contracts with Melbourne Storm.

One was registered with the NRL, one was in a file at the Storm's administration headquarters and another was being hidden at the home of former CEO Matt Hanson.

The contracts, which were drawn up by disgraced former boss Brian Waldron, also included payments for a home renovation and a guaranteed commentary role at Fox Sports. Super League architect John Ribot negotiated the Fox Sports deal.

Smith continues to deny he was aware of any rorting.

Other instances of Storm stars having more than one contract have been uncovered by the investigators.

The Storm are $850,000 over the cap this season and an astonishing $1.5 million next season.

News Limited spokesman Greg Baxter yesterday told 2GB the company now believed board members and players knew many of the contracts were illegal.

"The amount of money is significantly higher than first estimated, which is a massive problem. There are people who have previously claimed to be entirely innocent in these events and we now have emails that prove otherwise," Baxter said.

"We have circumstantial evidence that suggests members of the board were involved. This is probably going to get worse before it gets better.

"There is now evidence that some players were aware these arrangements were illegal in terms of the salary cap rules and they were happy to go along with it. You'd have to now assume some of the star players won't be at the club next year."

Maybe establish appointments via the Australian Tax Office since i'm pretty sure they would be interested in whether appropriate tax payments have been made,what concerns me is the lengths that players and agents will go to in regards to fabricating stories.I feel that the big movers in this merry go round will be the big sponsors aligned with the board and the dummy companies and charities associated with the financial payments to players.Agents will now be moving into a back up plan for their clients which may include the "IF I GO DOWN I TAKE EVERYONE WITH ME" scenario which would have alot of the bigwigs offering their company lawyers to the parties involved.I really really hope this brush taints all those involved as it is a blight in sport of where money is obviously more important than their so called family togetherness values.

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Replies

slip June 6, 2010 at 5:00pm

Not suprised to see the name John Ribot. The Storm have gone from a powerhouse dynasty to being stripped of 2 premierships, 3 minor premierships and beaten on Friday night by the real champions. The Storm are a joke!
Camo73 June 6, 2010 at 5:15pm

After reading this story this morning I am convinced that what we now know is just the tip of the iceberg!

I'm looking forward to the end of it all and finding out the truth.
It seems that they have deliberately set out to cheat and even the players (who claim they are innocent victims) knew all along.
- Tinkerbell > Camo73 June 6, 2010 at 5:51pm
  
  Darkie - I won't actually cop the stupidity argument!
  
  No matter how stupid a person is, you know that you only sign one contract! It's just the way things are done.
Normo June 6, 2010 at 6:02pm

3 contracts, well there you go. And he stood there and flatly lied that he had no knowledge of cheating. Be a man Smith and admit what you've done. I keep remembering him holding up the trophy last year, now after smashing them we have a bit of closure but still.
Daz1970 June 6, 2010 at 6:05pm

Pretty much what I expected to hear................but the problem is half these players that were over paid will take the money and run, Inglis to AFL is only one example, that's whats pisses me off..........they say its not about the money, but its always about the money. if they were so called loyalists then they'd stick by the club through the hard years, which is coming and not run at the first sign of $$$. Only then will they gain any form of respect from me ...........only then.
NRL>>>CLUB>>>PLAYER......In that order....not the other way around.
Barra Eel June 6, 2010 at 6:26pm

Scumbag,
and he has the nerve to whine to refs when his team is being spanked by the mighty eels. And for crooks like slater to run their mouths and talk shit to players during the games when they should all be only apologizing to every single player out there and kissing their asses. Nothing made me happier than to see Hayne smack slater in the mouth with a good right fist. Wish he had broken his jaw.
joeyboy June 6, 2010 at 7:16pm

Maybe establish appointments via the Australian Tax Office since i'm pretty sure they would be interested in whether appropriate tax payments have been made,what concerns me is the lengths that players and agents will go to in regards to fabricating stories.I feel that the big movers in this merry go round will be the big sponsors aligned with the board and the dummy companies and charities associated with the financial payments to players.Agents will now be moving into a back up plan for their clients which may include the "IF I GO DOWN I TAKE EVERYONE WITH ME" scenario which would have alot of the bigwigs offering their company lawyers to the parties involved.I really really hope this brush taints all those involved as it is a blight in sport of where money is obviously more important than their so called family togetherness values.
MAXFORCE ELECTRIFYING EELS 2010 June 6, 2010 at 8:57pm

If they broke the law then the police should handle it