Parramatta Eels salary cap: NRL boss Todd Greenberg explains decision
PARRAMATTA has been hit with a heavy penalty for systemic rorting of the salary cap — but unlike the 2010 Storm they can still play for points. Why?
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PARRAMATTA has been hit with a heavy penalty for systemic rorting of the salary cap, stripped of 12 competition points and fined $1 million.
But unlike the Storm in 2010, the NRL has confirmed that Parramatta will “be able to begin accruing points as soon as it makes the necessary changes to comply with the 2016 cap”.
NRL chief executive Todd Greenberg was asked why the Eels penalty differed from that handed down to the Storm in 2010, albeit under a different administration.
“I didn’t make the decision on Melbourne Storm but I’m making the decision today,” Greenberg said.
“The decision we’ve made gives you an eye to the future and gives some hope to the club and I hope they take that.
“When I watched the Melbourne Storm fans and players have to continue to play a season without the ability to accrue points, I thought that was soul destroying for the players and fans.
“I have tried hard to find a way forward here that Parramatta Eels can take a step forward today.”
Former Melbourne Storm chief Brian Waldron accused the NRL of double standards in allowing Parramatta to continue to play for premiership points this season.
“My daughter rang and said ‘why did Melbourne cop this and Parramatta cop that?’,” he said on SEN on Tuesday.
“Melbourne Storm had won some premierships, and it happened too quickly. The whole process was quite absurd. They took premierships off ... and said Melbourne Storm can’t play for points.
“I find it difficult to understand how they (Parramatta) can continue to play for points. I think that’s something that’s very difficult ... Melbourne people would say that’s quite unjust.
“Perhaps what it says more than anything is that this is the right decision, and the decision to not let the Melbourne Storm play for points in that year (2010) was a disgraceful thing.”
Greenberg was also asked how he would feel if the Eels went on to win the premiership.
“If Parramatta win every game under the salary cap I’ll be very happy, but they have to comply with the salary cap like every one of the other 15 clubs,” he said.
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