Todd Greenberg reveals NRL sanctions for off-field incidents
The NRL has dropped the hammer on Dylan Walker, who leads a lengthy list of sanctions which includes salary cap breaches and off-field behaviour matters investigated by the Integrity Unit.
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Salary cap drama: Sharks fined, forced to offload player
The NRL has dropped the hammer on Manly’s Dylan Walker, the first player to be stood down under the new discretionary powers of CEO Todd Greenberg.
Walker leads a lengthy list of sanctions handed down by the NRL which includes salary cap breaches and off-field behaviour matters which have been investigated by the Integrity Unit.
The Manly centre has been charged with assaulting his partner in December, but he has pleaded not guilty to the matter and it will return to court in May.
Greenberg said that following the change to the game’s policy on player behaviour, Walker will be placed on a no-fault stand-down prior to the commencement of the NRL season.
It will remain in place until the finalisation of his current court case.
The NRL stressed they were making no judgment on his guilt or innocence.
“That is a matter for the courts,” Greenberg said.
Greenberg explained the long list sanctions, which also included a ban for Cowboys forward Scott Bolton, fines for the Cronulla Sharks and Wests Tigers, and a penalty for Bulldogs prop Dylan Napa.
“We are determined to take a strong stand on behavioural matters,” Greenberg said.
“Our education and training programs for players are world class but nothing compares to players leading cultural change from within.
“Our greatest desire is to grow the game but our greatest challenge to growing the game is from within.”
Greenberg also announced the following determinations:
SHANE FLANAGAN
Former Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks coach Shane Flanagan has had his registration cancelled for breaching the conditions of his 2014 suspension.
The NRL will consider any future request to come back to the game on its merits but he will not return in the short term.
The proposed fine of $800,000 on the Sharks for continuing to engage with Flanagan during the period he was banned has been reduced to $500,000 after the club acknowledged and accepted its wrongdoing.
SHARKS SALARY CAP
The Integrity Unit has uncovered breaches of the salary cap rules over a number of years dating back to 2013. A list of proposed payments to players outside the salary cap was uncovered during the investigation.
These did not affect the club’s premiership-winning year in 2016.
A breach notice proposing a fine of $750,000 has been issued to the club but $500,000 of this will be suspended because it was the club, led by CEO Barry Russell, which initially self-reported salary cap discrepancies to the NRL.
(This means the club faces total fines of $1.25m ($500,000 suspended).
A $707,000 penalty has also been imposed on the club’s salary cap to be spread over the 2019 and 2020 seasons ($353,500 per season).
“We expect clubs when we identify conduct in their club to come forward and notify the NRL,” NRL chief operating officer Nick Weeks said.
“Barry Russell did that. Had that not have occurred the sanction we impose today would have been much larger.”
WESTS TIGERS
The NRL proposed a fine of $750,000 late last year for failing to disclose an Ambassador agreement with Robbie Farah when he finishes his career and for misleading the NRL in relation to an application for cap relief.
The NRL considered the response to the breach notice from Wests Tigers — who apologised for the error — and has agreed to reduce the penalty by 50 per cent. This means the club will be fined $375,000 for the breach.
In addition, the club has received a $670,000 salary cap penalty (equal to the value of the Ambassador agreement).
The NRL has agreed to spread this penalty over the 2019 and 2020 seasons.
Club CEO Justin Pascoe has also apologised for his failure to comply with the rules in drawing up the Farah agreement and other governance failings.
He has been suspended for six months (backdated to December 19, 2018). He will be able to resume his duties on June 19 this year.
A request by the Wests Tigers to register Zane Musgrove, who is currently facing indecent assault charges, has been refused until the case is concluded.
DYLAN NAPA
The NRL will fine Bulldogs recruit Napa 10 per cent of his 2019 salary following the publication of several lewd videos featuring the former Roosters star.
It was decided not to suspend him because this is an historical incident with the videos dating back five years and due to the player’s incorrect assumption that the material would not reach a broader audience.
However the NRL has warned that any video damaging to the game which is filmed and date stamped from today will incur significant penalties, including suspension.
“I’m trying to find a balance that’s fair and reasonable on the player and the club he is playing for,” Greenberg said.
“Not everyone will agree with that sanction but that’s where I landed.
“Every player would now be acutely aware that if they are going to take videos that are idiotic they can expect bigger sanctions.”
SCOTT BOLTON
The NRL has suspended Scott Bolton for 10 weeks — and five per cent of his 2019 salary — after pleading guilty in January to common assault involving a woman last year.
However it has agreed to halve the penalty if Bolton agrees to address the captains and senior players of all other teams during this year’s Magic Round in Brisbane in May.
The Cowboys have indicated he has agreed to the proposal.
Greenberg said he hoped the NRL would never go through a day like today again — with so many sanctions being issued.
“Hopefully the action we have taken over the last two days will act as a reminder to every player in our game to make the right choices and ensure they do not bring the game into disrepute,’’ Greenberg said.
“We cannot afford to ever have an off-season like this again.
“I would hope that the sanctions being handed down today will remind clubs and players that there are significant consequences for not complying with the standards and rules we set for our game.”
Originally published as Todd Greenberg reveals NRL sanctions for off-field incidents
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