Parramatta Eels salary cap: NRL’s punishment is fair on Eels and other clubs

A $1m fine and the deduction of 12 competition points is a fair and reasonable outcome for the Parramatta Eels and rival clubs, writes BUZZ ROTHFIELD.

A $1 million fine and the deduction of 12 competition points is a fair and reasonable outcome for the Parramatta Eels and rival clubs.

Throw in the loss of $370,000 prizemoney from winning the Auckland Nines and the punishment is spot on.

Never mind the fact Melbourne Storm were stripped of two premierships and played one season for zero competition points.

NRL CEO Todd Greenberg (right) and NRL Head of Integrity Nick Weeks answer a question at a press conference in Sydney on Tuesday, May 3, 2016. Following a salary cap investigation the Parramatta Eels will be docked 12 points and must shed players in the next nine days to be eligible to play for points by their next clash with South Sydney in round 10. (AAP Image/Paul Miller) NO ARCHIVING

For starters Parramatta had no premierships to take.

Storm’s cheating was of a much larger scale ($957,206 in 2008, $1,020,597 in 2009, 1,039,696 in 2010).

As NRL boss Todd Greenberg said: “When I watched Melbourne Storm fans and players have to continue to play a season without the ability to accrue points I thought that was soul destroying both for the players and the fans.”

Under this scenario at least Parramatta will have the slightest of hope.

Win 12 from 15 and they could play finals football. It’s highly unlikely but mathematically possible.

If coach Brad Arthur can trim $570,000 from his salary cap before playing the South Sydney Rabbitohs on Friday week, it will be a level playing field.

At least fans will still have something to cheer for and Parramatta’s team will be worth the same as everyone else.

That’s all we wanted from day one.

Now Parramatta have the chance to get their act together under new management. They are getting a 35,000 seat stadium and have a leagues club that prints money.

In future they could become the most powerful force in the game.

This is their opportunity to start again and go about their business honestly.