Parramatta Eels, NRL headed for showdown over loss of four competition points

WITH the loss of four competition points on the line, the Eels have lodged a request with the NRL — but the governing body is refusing to budge.

Parramatta Eels chairman boss Steve Sharp photographed at Parramatta Stadium.

PARRAMATTA and the NRL appear headed for a showdown over the loss of four competition points, with the governing body set to give Eels players just 48 hours to deal with any potential penalty.

As revealed by The Daily Telegraph on Friday, Parramatta are promising Supreme Court action should they be docked four points for a range of salary cap breaches in 2015.

Given the seriousness of the penalty, Eels chairman Steve Sharp has approached the NRL and requested their decision be made by next Friday, allowing players the time to work through and deal with any ­potential fallout.

Yet despite Sharp’s request, the NRL is refusing to budge, revealing on Friday night a February 29 deadline was already in place.

Should the Eels be docked four points, it means coach Brad Arthur will have only two full days to get his players’ heads around the saga before opening the season against Brisbane at Pirtek Stadium on Thursday, March 3.

While no one from League HQ would comment on the issue on Friday, a statement read: “The NRL has set a February 29 deadline for the governance changes.

“The review was conducted by an independent firm (PwC) ... and our expectation is that the club will implement all of the recommendations of that review.”

Eels chairman Steve Sharp has approached the NRL and requested their decision be made by next Friday.

Already fined $460,000 for cap breaches, the Eels have since undertaken governance reviews as well as hired former salary cap auditor Ian Schubert.

However, earlier this month, the club’s finances were again making headlines, with questions raised over the validity of third party agreements involving star forward Anthony Watmough.

Asked what the Eels would do if docked four points, Sharp said: “If it does — and we don’t think it will come to that — we’d fight. Supreme Court.

“Obviously I’m a Parra­matta man and love the club. But starting on minus four points ... I just don’t think the game needs that sort of drama.”

Eels coach Brad Arthur has rested his star signings for a trial against the Titans.

Four points was the difference between finishing eighth and 10th last season. In 2014, however, the gap was much wider — with two wins the difference between playing finals footy or finishing 13th.

Meanwhile, Parramatta’s squad arrived in Alice Springs on Friday night, with the town hosting a trial game against Gold Coast on Saturday.

Just like for their Nines ­assault, Arthur has again chosen to rest star signings Kieran Foran, Michael Jennings, Beau Scott and Michael Gordon.

Originally published as Parramatta Eels, NRL headed for showdown over loss of four competition points