Top NRL official rejects claims Parramatta Eels reported cap breach allegations

Top NRL official rejects claims Parramatta Eels reported cap breach allegationsDateApril 11, 2016 - 10:00PMChris Barrett and Kate McClymontThe Parramatta Eels are in more hot water over claims the club's board failed to report to the NRL that chief executive Scott Seward exited last year over allegations he was involved in deals with players that could have breached the salary cap.Revelations by Fairfax Media on Monday about secret cash payments made by Seward and then Eels team manager Jason Irvine to former Parramatta forward Lee Mossop were accompanied by details of Seward's deed of release from June 2015.It stated that "the club has alleged that Mr Seward has sought to enter into agreements on behalf of the club that, if finalised, may have contravened NRL salary cap rules".On Monday, a leading NRL official said Parramatta board members including chairman Steve Sharp had not mentioned that Seward's departure from the Eels had been in connection with alleged salary cap irregularities.Club officials including board directors are obligated under the NRL Code of Conduct to report any suspected cap breaches to the NRL integrity unit.Eels directors have claimed privately that they told then NRL chief executive Dave Smith and head of club services Tony Crawford about Seward's dealings in relation to the salary cap but this was denied by Crawford."As part of a programmed visit of all NRL Clubs in mid to late 2015, a number of the NRL executive, including Dave Smith and I, met with the board of the Eels on 11 August 2015 at Parramatta," Crawford said."At the meeting, the Eels chairman expressed frustration that Dave Smith responded to a journalist's question after Scott Seward left the Eels saying the NRL had enjoyed a good working relationship with Scott."Dave pointed out that other than a bland media statement released by the Eels about Scott leaving the business, the Eels had not shared with the NRL the reasons for Scott's departure. The Eels chairman claimed that Scott had misled the Eels board, however was no more forthcoming about specifics."Sharp did not answer calls on Tuesday.The claims will put further pressure on the under-siege Parramatta board, however, as section 16 of the NRL's Code of Conduct states that: "any club or person bound by this code reasonably suspects that a breach of the NRL Rules…has occurred, it is the duty of that club or person to report that suspected breach to the NRL Integrity and Compliance Unit as soon as possible after forming the relevant suspicion."NRL investigators are understood to have begun interviews with Parramatta officials as they step up their probe into third-party payments to Eels players. It is believed some have taken place off site away from the Rugby League Central building at Moore Park.There has been ongoing correspondence between the NRL and Parramatta over whether Seward had been interviewed last week before his confidentiality agreement with the Eels was waived.Parramatta received an email from the NRL early last week, asking for the agreement to be waived. The Eels, however, believe the governing body had already met their former boss and was retrospectively seeking approval.With the club facing a deduction of competition points and another heavy fine, Sharp has pledged "full assistance" to the NRL integrity unit but the alleged failure of the board to report the details behind Seward's departure only adds to expectations that the governing body will include demands about changes to the Parramatta leadership as part of the penalty that is handed down.The NRL is angry at a consistent failure from the Eels to declare potential salary cap issues to the integrity unit since the club was hit with a $525,000 fine, later reduced to $465,000, and a four-point suspended penalty last May over breaches in all four cap bands in 2014.For its part the board claims that it has endeavoured to get to the bottom of potential salary cap problems by hiring audit firm PWC.The NRL does not hold jurisdiction over the board of the Parramatta Leagues Club, which effectively runs the team, but the same directors sit on the board of the Parramatta National Rugby League and are bound by the officials' Code of Conduct.http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/parramatta-eels/top-nrl-official-rejects-claims-parramatta-eels-reported-cap-breach-allegations-20160411-go3s1w.html

"Yeah it is getting concerning. More so to the fact that Garrick now linked to Roosters and Taulagi to Dragons. Dragons have a chance of getting a player. Koloamatangi we go hard for and seem to miss out again. We are turning into the Dragons where…"

"Pezet should play 20+ games for us. We'll be paying him what he's worth (to us).
There is huge demand for halves and Pezet is one of the best available, especially for long term value. He could have gotten $1M from plenty of clubs. But not from us,…"

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Rosemont April 12, 2016 at 3:40am

For those that like to bury there head in the sand you may want to avoid this. You know who you are. It's nearly time to farewell Steve Sharp .
Carl April 12, 2016 at 5:15am

The coaching staff and players and fans,should not get punished for this, punished the board, we shouldn't get points reducted.
The NRL should sack the board and do a big clean out and give them a massive fine for it.
- The Badger > Carl April 12, 2016 at 9:10am
  
  Worst case scenario ...This could be the start of the end of RL in the west.
  
  Say the NRL sack the board (or remove the franchise licence). What happens if the Parra Leagues Club then pulls funding as it is no longer involved with NRL and other member interests take precedence?
  
  Junior League funding may get pulled also and funding given to other areas.
  
  In time, Parra Leagues may become another entity (eg The Parramatta Sports Club) as it will not be involved with league.
  
  It would be easy for them to then fund Aussie rules, soccer, RU or netball.
  
  None of us would want that - esp. the NRL.
Rosemont April 12, 2016 at 5:39am

As I understand it the Nrl has offered leniency if the board of chumps fall on there sword but this has been rejected by Sharp and the other fools on the board. It's all about them not the fans. Ando has taken leave all of a sudden. Sharps days are numbered tick tick. So many agendas and .... Whistleblowers. We know who you are board member you will fall as well.
- Outrunna > Rosemont April 12, 2016 at 7:20am
  
  Talk about agendas, do you have one Rosemont?
- Muttman > Rosemont April 12, 2016 at 7:35am
  
  Rosemont surely you don't have an agenda here do you?
  Btw Sharp and co may well fall on their swords but not today. They haven't been charged with anything. The media don't run the NRL so why don't we just all wait and see what they've got to say first.
Bup April 12, 2016 at 5:59am

All party's are going to have to get a result here. The club , the NRL and the fans. I believe we'll see a 4 point deduction, the loss of a few board members and an NRL governance review at the beginning and end of the next few season with a 5 year suspended sentence. If caught in that period complete loss of points. That will appease the NRL , opposition fans whilst we take our medicine.
Glen wilcox April 12, 2016 at 7:05am

Blah blah blah
Y2Eel April 12, 2016 at 7:23am

How did The Broncos get away with Sacking their CEO was it Gee? and have him go into hiding? We try the same thing and Sewerd comes out of the bushes....
- Dave > Y2Eel April 12, 2016 at 10:44am
  
  because no one has heard from Gee since then and no one either in the club or with connections at the club are leaking stuff to the media.
  
  If Parramatta didn't have all the factions fighting for power and doing whatever it takes to get on or stay on the board then this could well have died with Seward's firing just like Brisbane did with Gee, it may not have but there would have at least been a chance
  
  The club (and I include current & previous board members, employees or wannabe board members that leaked the stories) killed itself with this not the NRL, not the press, not Todd Greenberg
  
  No one is to blame but the club

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