NRL 2024: Deine Mariner manager speaks out on anti-tampering scandal that landed Dolphins $50,000 fine

Deine Mariner’s manager has spoken out over the anti-tampering scandal that saw the Dolphins fined and himself suspended for 12 months, claiming the Redcliffe side did “nothing wrong”.

The Dolphins were fined $50,000 for illegal dealings with Deine Mariner.

Key figures in the Deine Mariner anti-tampering scandal have opened up about stunning allegations the Dolphins tried to induce the Brisbane flyer to break his contract and walk out on the Broncos.

This masthead can reveal the machinations behind one of the most explosive contract spats in NRL history ahead of Friday night’s derby between the Dolphins and Broncos at Suncorp Stadium.

The Battle of Brisbane has become one of the code’s pre-eminent derbies and it was fuelled by the Mariner contract fiasco that represented one of the first spicy flashpoints between the River City rivals.

The Dolphins were hit with a $50,000 fine – $25,000 of which was suspended – after an NRL integrity-unit inquiry found the code’s 17th team guilty of illegal dealings with Broncos young gun Mariner.

Mariner’s manager Dixon McIver was also slapped with a provisional 12-month suspension should he again breach the NRL’s Playing Contract and Remuneration (PCR) Rules over the next two years.

Mariner was set to face the Dolphins for the first time since the drama on Friday night, but will miss the third instalment of the Battle of Brisbane after breaking his back in last week’s loss to Melbourne.

The Dolphins were slapped with a massive fine after attempting illegal dealings with Deine Mariner. Picture: Chris Hyde/Getty Images

Brisbane chiefs made a formal complaint to NRL bosses, alleging the Dolphins tried to lure Mariner to the club by offering more than double his contract at the Broncos.

The Mariner affair caused outrage across both camps and for McIver, who is still effectively on probation with the NRL, the wounds of the contractual fallout have cut deep.

“There’s a lot of rorts that have gone on in this game unpunished, yet I was punished for something that never happened,” McIver said ahead of the Dolphins-Broncos derby.

“I am still shocked by the whole thing. My name got dragged through the mud and it impacted on Deine as well.

“It’s now a blemish against my name and I’m not happy about it because it’s still a mark.

“The whole issue was overinflated. I was the unfortunate bugger who got made an example of.

“I still don’t understand the logic and how this all played out.

“The truth is the Dolphins did nothing wrong and not once was there any inducement for Deine to leave the Broncos.

Deine Mariner will not face the Dolphins this week having been ruled out with a back injury. Picture: Chris Hyde/Getty Images

“It disappointed me in a big way because I have always had a lot of pride in the way I conduct myself as an agent.

“I got made an example of, but to this day I am adamant there was nothing underhanded or untoward in what took place.

“The NRL took the action they did and I have another year to keep my name clean, which I intend to do.

“You have to ask the Broncos what they believe we did, but I know my side of the story.

“The truth is there was no tampering breach.

“I have been honest all along with the NRL.

“There has been a lot of stuff going on between the Dolphins and Broncos in Brisbane and I believe this (the Mariner spat) was the culmination of things.

“There was the Karl Oloapu issue as well, so the Broncos clearly had some frustrations.”

Karl Oloapu, now with the Bulldogs, vowed never to play for the Broncos again after a number of failed promises by the club. Picture: NRL Photos

McIver is referring to Oloapu’s desire to quit the Broncos last year amid claims the teenage sensation had received a more lucrative offer from the Dolphins.

A Redcliffe junior, Olopau had a three-year deal with Brisbane, but the saga turned nasty with the young gun vowing never to play for the club again until he was granted a release.

The Broncos slapped a $500,000 transfer fee on his head and also blocked him from going to the Dolphins, prompting Oloapu to eventually sign with the Bulldogs, with whom he has suffered a serious neck injury.

Against that backdrop, the Broncos were reluctant to allow Mariner to entertain rival offers when McIver approached Brisbane hierarchy in 2022 seeking permission to test the open market.

McIver confirmed he had interest from several clubs, including the Dolphins, but claims at no stage did Wayne Bennett’s club table a formal offer.

“We absolutely contemplated if it would be a wise move for Deine to look elsewhere, if in fact there was somewhere else to be,” he said.

“I initially asked Brisbane because of the logjam of talent. The Broncos had Selwyn Cobbo, Jesse Arthars, Herbie Farnworth, Kotoni Staggs coming through and Reece Walsh came back from the Warriors, so Deine didn’t know where he would fit in.

“We respectfully asked the Broncos for permission to negotiate, they respectfully declined and we respected that.

McIver says there was never a formal offer from Wayne Bennett’s Dolphins for Mariner. Picture: Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images

“This is exactly what happened – I had a brief discussion with the Dolphins and I communicated that to the NRL integrity unit.

“There was no coercion. There was nothing documented. There were no offers.

“We had one conversation with the Dolphins. There was nothing even concrete (related to a contract inducement) that would hold up in a court of law.

“We didn’t even have a formal meeting with the Dolphins. I had one passing conversation with a Dolphins official at a football oval and that was it.

“The Dolphins were one of several clubs to express interest in Deine.

Deine Mariner is contracted with the Broncos until the end of 2027. Photo: Zak Simmonds

“What baffled me the most is what notes can I supply to the NRL for something that never happened?

“A lot of people thought I would just roll over and blame the Dolphins. But the Dolphins did nothing wrong.

“I stuck to my word of being honest and I got f***ing crucified for it.

“I have no idea what Brisbane supplied to the NRL, I’m not privy to their statements, but Deine has since honoured his Broncos deal and there is no issue with him and Brisbane.

“We have since signed an extension, so Deine has no issue with being a Bronco.

“He has wanted to play for the club since he was five years old.”