Parramatta Eels: NRL launches probe into alleged breaches of salary cap rules

PART 3: THE Parramatta Eels have been forced to come clean to the NRL following our exposé of a culture of systemic breaches of salary cap rules.

THE Parramatta Eels have been forced to come clean and open up their books to the NRL following The Daily Telegraph’s exposé this week of a culture of systemic breaches of salary cap rules.

NRL boss John Grant last night announced a full investigation to “get to the bottom of the allegations”, and summoned besieged Eels chairman Steve Sharp to intensive talks that also involved NRL integrity boss Nick Weeks.

Mr Sharp has faced growing calls for his resignation after this paper’s revelations he presided over a board that allowed a culture of systemic salary cap breaches at the club.

The Eels could also be docked premiership points if the infringements are proved to be deliberate.

Mr Grant said it was important to investigate the matter so “the club and the game can draw a line in the sand”.

The Telegraph can also reveal fresh claims that Eels chief executive John Boulous was allocated up to $180,000 a year in corporate hospitality tickets by the club.

Asked yesterday about Mr Boulous’s allocation, a club spokesman had no comment.

The NRL has issued a “please explain” to the Eels about the claims, and the club will face hefty fines after already being slugged $465,000 for salary cap breaches.

The Eels could also be docked premiership points if the infringements are proved to be deliberate.

The Telegraph’s explosive revelations about the Eels this week have included:

● DOCUMENTS showing active discussion by the club’s board of using corporate boxes to reward third-party sponsors of its players, which is in clear breach of salary cap rules;

● $39,000 made in five separate payments to former Eels star Jarryd Hayne after he left the club;

● A $27,500 payment made to former Eel Ben Smith, months after he retired, by a sporting goods manufacturer he had no contract with; and

● SEPARATE third-party contracts involving Hayne and fellow former Eel Will Hopoate.

Former Eels star Jarryd Hayne playing for the San Francisco 49ers.

Meanwhile, new documents show Mr Boulous was personally allocated up to 50 corporate box tickets per game last year, when he was the club’s chief operating officer.

Insiders have revealed tickets to a corporate box for Parramatta home games at Pirtek Stadium are valued at $300 each. The boxes are fully catered with food and drinks for evening or afternoon matches.

Parramatta’s corporate hospitality inventory for its 2015 season opener against Manly shows the allocation to Mr Boulous. Eight of the tickets were allocated to a real estate agent who was a prominent third-party sponsor of Eels players in recent years.

Mr Boulos’ allocation comes on top of the 62-person chairman’s box made available to Mr Sharp.

Parramatta chairman Steve Sharp.

One third-party sponsor, John Iori, owner of Rouse Hill Village shopping centre, said he had an open invitation to boxes at home games. Mr Iori said on Wednesday: “I go to the chairman’s box, or the one next door.”

There is no suggestion of any wrongdoing by Mr Iori.

Among other unusual allocations in the hospitality inventory document are an additional 10 box tickets that were allocated to “PDRL” — the Parramatta District Rugby League club.

Historically, PDRL looked after the junior league in the district. However, it had ceased operations by January, 2015, and is now in liquidation, raising question marks about who these corporate tickets were given to.

Parramatta CEO John Boulous.