Newcastle Knights in a rush to pay player wages

NATHAN Tinkler recently invited a number of senior Newcastle Knights players on an all-expenses-paid holiday to Bali, it can be revealed.

NATHAN Tinkler recently invited a number of senior Newcastle Knights players on an all-expenses-paid holiday to Bali.

They were to be treated to business class airfares and five-star luxury with Tinkler before training resumes for next season.

The same man was yesterday scrambling to pay $600,000 to the players and coaching staff in overdue monthly wages.

The Knights owner narrowly averted a player revolt late in the afternoon when his financial staff at Hunter Sports Group deposited the cash into their bank accounts.

It follows the Knights falling behind in player superannuation during the season and often being late with salaries for office staff.

Just hours after thetelegraph.com.au revealed Knights players and coaching staff had not been paid their wages on time, HSG executives went into damage control.

"I accept there has been tardiness in the past," said spokesman Richard Fisk said. "But all pays for Jets, Knights, HSG employees have been processed and will clear today."

In a text message, Fisk wrote: "Not late. Obviously confusion over weekend. Wages not late processed on 15th and will clear today. We are probably waiting on All Too Hard's prizemoney from the weekend ... lol".

All Too Hard is Tinkler's champion three-year-old that surged past Pierro near the line to win the Caulfield Guineas on Saturday, collecting $600,000 prizemoney, the very same amount owed to players. The horse is now valued at almost $20 million as a stud prospect, according to The Daily Telegraph racing editor Ray Thomas.

Tinkler's debt problems with various mining companies have been the subject of much speculation in financial and business circles recently.

The now Singapore-based Tinkler was once rated Australia's richest man under 40 by Business Review Weekly, worth more than $1billion.

Knights players were reluctant to speak out publicly.

One, who asked not to be named, said wages were expected to be in their accounts last Saturday morning. "It's scary because of all the recent publicity about Nathan's business difficulties and debts," the player said.

"We've all got mortgages and bills that are due on pay day or the following day.

"We always get paid on the 15th and when it wasn't in our accounts on Monday, a few boys panicked and rang their managers.

"All we're asking is to be paid on time."

NRL acting CEO Shane Mattiske spoke to the Knights CEO Matt Gidley about the situation yesterday.

"They've told us it was a clerical error," Mattiske said.

"There was a timing issue but we've received assurances that the payments have now been made.

"We're watching the Knights closely as we do with all clubs."

Veteran player manager Wayne Beavis phoned the Knights on Monday afternoon when it was discovered one of his players hadn't been paid.

"I told them they had until 2pm today (Tuesday)," Beavis said.

"A lot of the players have direct debits on their accounts.

"If the money's not there and they don't have an overdraft it will be knocked back.

"They get charged penalty interest and fees. I can assure you it's not all beer and skittles."

Gidley emailed Knights players to assure them they would get paid.

"The wages have been paid to Newcastle Knights staff and players on time and in the normal course of business," he wrote.

"As per normal business, wages are processed on the 15th of each month, and cleared on the 16th."