Parramatta Eels 2016: The scandals, slips and stupid mistakes that cost the club

SALARY cap breaches, drug busts, police investigations and rehab visits — this timeline of tumult details the Parramatta Eels’ annus horribilis.

It’s been a horror year for the Parramatta Eels.

SALARY cap breaches, drug busts, police investigations and rehabilitation visits — this timeline of tumult details the Parramatta Eels’ annus horribilis.

* March 2 - Parramatta avoid four-point penalty over earlier salary-cap breaches after making core governance changes

* March 9 - The Daily Telegraph reveals explosive internal minutes from March 2014, signed off by Eels chairman Steve Sharp, that show the Parramatta board openly discussed strategies to skirt salary cap rules by rewarding third party agreement (TPA) providers with corporate boxes.

* March 10 - New details emerge of TPA payments in alleged breach of salary cap rules to Eels stars.

* March 11 - ARL Commission chairman John Grant announces a full forensic investigation “to get to the bottom of the allegations”.

* March 15 - Fresh Eels board minutes from January 2014 reveal directors discussed the urgent need to “secure” nearly $600,000 in third-party payments.

* April 6 - Fresh revelations suggest past and present players, including Corey Norman, Chris Sandow, Will Hopoate, Reni Maitua, Willie Tonga, Justin Hunt, Nathan Peats, Lee Mossop and Cheyse Blair, were guaranteed hundreds of thousands of dollars in third-party payments.

* April 7 - Emails reveal the Eels guaranteed more than $200,000 in third party payments to club captain Tim Mannah.

* April 27 - Fresh text messages emerge proving Eels CEO John Boulous was actively involved in discussions about a proposed $75,000 third-party agreement deal with Parramatta Council, which included Mannah, Jarryd Hayne, Will Hopoate and Nathan Peats, in 2014.

* April 29 - Kieran Foran checks into a rehabilitation clinic after a relationship breakdown

* May 2 - With the NRL’s decision imminent, Sharp says the club had not been afforded “natural justice and procedural fairness”, and hints sanctions could be appealed through the courts.

* May 3 - The NRL announces the club will be docked 12 competition points, stripped of its Auckland Nines title, five senior officials suspended and fined $1.25 million for systematic salary-cap breaches

* May 6 - It is announced that chairman Steve Sharp, CEO John Boulous, deputy chairman Tom Issa, head of football Daniel Anderson and director Peter Serrao will take legal action against the NRL

* May 10 - The club launches an investigation after prop Junior Paulo dons headgear and plays a game of third-grade club rugby union under a fake name

* May 12 – After unloading Nathan Peats and Ryan Morgan and the retirement of Anthony Watmough, the Eels are deemed salary cap compliant by the NRL.

* May 20 - Corey Norman is allegedly caught in possession of illegal drugs and subsequently charged by police just hours after being pictured dining with known criminals. He and Paulo subsequently receive warnings from police about consorting with criminals

* May 29 - Paulo is granted an immediate release, freeing him to join Canberra

* May 31 - Foran ruled out for the rest of the year with a shoulder injury.

* June 9 - Police launch an official investigation into the “Gang of Five” on fraud charges related to the club’s salary cap rorting.

* June 18 - It is reported that Semi Radradra will walk out on the Eels to take up a deal in French rugby. The club claims that nothing is amiss and that Radradra will return from a trip to Fiji in time to play against the Sharks in Round 17.

* June 28 - Foran is issued with a breach notice, stripped of the captaincy and fined $5000 for missing a training session to treat his shoulder.

* June 29 - Semi Radradra under investigation for alleged assault on his ex-partner, and fails to turn up to training as he deliberates over a move to French rugby

* July 5 – Radradra pleads not guilty to three domestic violence charges.

* July 8 - Foran walks out on his four-year, $5 million contract

* July 9 - The NRL officially punishes the Eels docking the club 12 competition points, issuing a whopping $1 million fine and the club’s favourable for and against points differential was revoked.

Originally published as Parramatta Eels 2016: The scandals, slips and stupid mistakes that cost the club