New Zealand Warriors and their controversial talent scout Peter O'Sullivan are facing scrutiny over an attempt to lure Parramatta youngster Dylan Brown across the Tasman on a $3 million deal that could be deemed a breach of the NRL's anti-tampering rules.
The Herald can reveal the Warriors made an offer to the rookie playmaker which, if accepted, would have put the teenager on the richest contract ever for a player yet to feature in a single game of first grade.
The Warriors' bid to sign Brown, however, is likely to get the attention of the NRL given he is contracted to the Eels until the end of the 2020 season.
The Herald has obtained a copy of the contract, which proposes to make Brown a Warrior until the end of the 2025 season. The base pay for seasons 2020 to 2025 adds up to $NZ2.8m ($A2.69m), plus $NZ60,000 ($A57,651) across those six seasons in relocation expenses.
The contract states the Warriors would accommodate Brown in 2019 as a member of their full-time squad if he gained a release from Parramatta.
“$NZ to be advised should Parramatta release Dylan if he signs with the Warriors for season 2020 subject to salary cap levels,” the offer states.
It’s understood Brown is currently on a two-year development contract at Parramatta worth about $60,000 per season. The blue and golds have no intention of releasing Brown and are keen to extend his tenure.
Under the NRL's anti-tampering rules, clubs can only begin talks with players from other teams on November 1 the year before their contract expires.
If the NRL deems the Warriors broke those rules, it could result in sanctions for the club and O’Sullivan, whose name was on the bottom of the contract offer. But Warriors chief executive Cameron George on Sunday said they had not deliberately breached the anti-tampering regulations.
"We approached [Brown] on the understanding he was off contract at the end of 2019, which we're entitled to do," George said.
"It was later cleared up [by his agent] that he had a variation [in his Parramatta contract] that committed him until 2020 and that was it." O'Sullivan was contacted for comment.
The Warriors deal, sent to Brown’s manager in November, shows how desperate the club is to find a long-term replacement for Kiwis halfback Shaun Johnson. Johnson was released from the final year of his contract to join Cronulla when relations soured with the Warriors after they indicated he wasn’t in their long-term plans. The multi-million dollar deal also indicates how highly Brown, who is still just 18 years old, is rated.
Brown’s stocks are on the rise given he is expected to partner Mitchell Moses in the halves for Parramatta this season after Corey Norman was released from the final year of his contract to join St George Illawarra.
The Brown offer is $300,000 for 2020, $350,000 for 2021, $450,000 in 2022, $500,000 for 2023, $550,000 for 2024 and peaks at $650,000 for 2025 (all of the totals are in New Zealand dollars). A special condition attached to the deal proposes that a “sizeable amount” be front loaded to allow the teenager to purchase a house on his return to Auckland.
Parramatta officials are aware of the Warriors offer and are furious about the attempt to sign their most promising star. There is no suggestion of any inappropriate behaviour from Brown or his management team.
O'Sullivan, the talent spotter credited with unearthing a slew of superstars including Greg Inglis, Israel Folau and Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, is back in the game after being permitted by the NRL to join the Warriors last year following his deregistration in 2016.
He was deregistered while at Sydney Roosters following an investigation into a breach of the league's betting rules and his financial dealings with notorious punter Eddie Hayson.
Hayson, who deposited more than $700,000 in O'Sullivan's TAB account over a number of years, denied he ever gained any financial benefit from their friendship. Asked at a press conference in September 2016 whether O'Sullivan had ever provided him with inside information, Hayson said: "Um, I don't believe so. I've known Peter for a long time so I want to be very accurate in what I say. No, I don't believe he has."
O'Sullivan was at Melbourne Storm during that club's salary cap scandal which exploded in 2010 but escaped sanction.
Former NRL chief executive David Gallop said only legal advice prevented the governing body from recommending O'Sullivan be sacked from his subsequent job with the Roosters. The NRL's former salary cap auditor Ian Schubert uncovered evidence that O'Sullivan failed to disclose third-party payments in player contracts. He was also found to have "deliberately concealed" the real amount paid to at least two players.
Replies
I can't argue with you there John EeI. I believe the hypocrisy here is just another example of Greenberg and the NRL allowing flexibilty where there should have been clear and decisive action. These are the sort of issues that can draw immediate punishment and put everyone on notice without comprising their right to appeal with new or fresh evidence.
Exactly right John E. Due diligence is the term. Illegal to make an offer while under contract. So you check the length of contract before offering a deal. Not offer a contract then try and plead “sorry, innocent mistake, we didn’t know”.
Try that when you get busted doing 80 in a school zone “thanks for letting me know officer”
Nice try idiots.
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