Storm directors launch legal action against salary cap

[JRD]

Storm directors launch legal action against salary cap punishments

May 14, 2010 .The four independent directors of Melbourne Storm say they will commence legal action against the NRL in the Supreme Court of Victoria.

The directors - chairman Rob Moodie, Petra Fawcett, Peter Maher and Gerry Ryan - made the decision unanimously, Moodie said.

Speaking at law firm Arnold Bloch Leibler, Moodie said the NRL's decision-making process in applying the club's heavy salary cap breach penalties was "not fair, impartial or transparent".

"The NRL also did not provide the club with an opportunity to obtain independent legal advice before imposing penalties or to argue about the appropriateness of the penalties that should be imposed."

Moodie would not reveal who would fund the legal action, only saying they were supporters of the Melbourne Storm.

A directions hearing has been scheduled in the Supreme Court on May 21 before Justice Tony Pagone.

"In making their decision (to pursue legal action), the four directors have sought independent legal advice and carefully considered the interests of the Melbourne Storm stakeholders - its members, fans, supporters, staff, players and sponsors," a statement from the directors' lawyers said.

News Limited chairman and chief executive, John Hartigan, said yesterday the organisation acknowledges how 'devastating this has been for the fans, players, staff and sponsors of the Storm'.

"These people, while not being the financial owners of Melbourne Storm, are the spiritual and emotional owners of the club.

"The directors of Melbourne Storm seek that the club should be provided with a fair, impartial and transparent process to deal with these very serious issues of breaching the salary cap and, if granted, the club will comply with the NRL's process in a new hearing.

"Moreover, the club will abide by the outcome of any fair, impartial and transparent process at which the club is independently represented.

"And they will also encourage all of the Melbourne Storm stakeholders to do likewise."

NRL chief executive David Gallop said on Thursday legal proceedings could weed out accomplices to the covert salary cap breaches.

"The club's practices could not be any more under the spotlight and if the threat of legal proceedings is an attempt to divert attention away from that issue then it may have the opposite effect," Gallop said.

"There is no doubt that any proceedings that take place could well help to identify if any Storm directors were aware of the club's salary cap deception."
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AAP

What a bunch of wankers,they say the outcome was "not fair, impartial or transparent" just like the way they rorted the cap

 

[system]

Even if this action was successfull in the courts the NRL is well within it's rights to use the new evidence gained by the forensic audit to run the punishment again and more and follow the bylaws to the letter and really send them up the creek.

The Board of Directors is merely trying to save face.

FTR I think any legal action will fail. The NRL will be backed by News Ltd money and lawyers here as well

 

[Balmain_Tiger]

oh boo hoo, u cheated, face the consequences! ur lucky that your even playing this season!

 

[T-REXX]

i wonder if the other clubs can take them to Court for cheating lol

or manly or Parramatta for that matter for robbing them of a GF win

 

[magpie_mania]

even if this action was successfull in the courts the nrl is well within it's rights to use the new evidence gained by the forensic audit to run the punishment again and more and follow the bylaws to the letter and really send them up the creek.

The board of directors is merely trying to save face.

Ftr i think any legal action will fail. The nrl will be backed by news ltd money and lawyers here as well

against a news limited club will be interesting to see how this one plays out.

 

[IronTiger]

i wonder if the other clubs can take them to Court for cheating lol

or manly or Parramatta for that matter for robbing them of a GF win

Well using the example of the Premier League and Sheffield Utd successfully suing West Ham United for fielding an illegal player, Carlos Tevez in their final games of the season anything is possible.

 

[Tigerdazz]

Well News Ltd, here is your opportunity. An opportunity to save face. An opportunity to show some integrity. An opportunity to EXIT the part ownership of the game of Rugby League with SOME dignity. DISSOLVE the Melbourne storm IMMEDIATELY, withdraw ALL FUNDING and commence your own LEGAL ACTION against ANY Melbourne storm OFFICIAL , SPONSOR or PLAYER involved in BRINGING THE GAME INTO DISREPUTE. Rupert Murdoch claimed he was embarassed by the Storms salary cap rort, CUT THEM LOOSE RUPERT…...its the LEAST you can do after the TURMOIL you have put OUR game through. :imp: :imp:

 

[Geo]

Well News Ltd, here is your opportunity. An opportunity to save face. An opportunity to show some integrity. An opportunity to EXIT the part ownership of the game of Rugby League with SOME dignity. DISSOLVE the Melbourne storm IMMEDIATELY, withdraw ALL FUNDING and commence your own LEGAL ACTION against ANY Melbourne storm OFFICIAL , SPONSOR or PLAYER involved in BRINGING THE GAME INTO DISREPUTE. Rupert Murdoch claimed he was embarassed by the Storms salary cap rort, CUT THEM LOOSE RUPERT…...its the LEAST you can do after the TURMOIL you have put OUR game through. :imp: :imp:

Dazz…you and I see eye to eye on the Storm me thinks............sink or swim time...

Oh and what a bunch of stinking Class Act SOOKS......Hellllooooo,,you CHEATED, SYSTEMATICLY and PURPOSELY....

Now the penalty is unfair...Whhhaaaaaaaa......

 

[Guest]

They've got a hide on them to argue the penalties given what they have done. I can't see it ending well for them and it won't be a cheap defence either. Hope the cheaters cop it again.

 

[Tigerdazz]

Well News Ltd, here is your opportunity. An opportunity to save face. An opportunity to show some integrity. An opportunity to EXIT the part ownership of the game of Rugby League with SOME dignity. DISSOLVE the Melbourne storm IMMEDIATELY, withdraw ALL FUNDING and commence your own LEGAL ACTION against ANY Melbourne storm OFFICIAL , SPONSOR or PLAYER involved in BRINGING THE GAME INTO DISREPUTE. Rupert Murdoch claimed he was embarassed by the Storms salary cap rort, CUT THEM LOOSE RUPERT…...its the LEAST you can do after the TURMOIL you have put OUR game through. :imp: :imp:

Dazz…you and I see eye to eye on the Storm me thinks............sink or swim time...

Oh and what a bunch of stinking Class Act SOOKS......Hellllooooo,,you CHEATED, SYSTEMATICLY and PURPOSELY....

Now the penalty is unfair...Whhhaaaaaaaa......

Newcastle gave the game a bloody nose , The Bulldogs stabbed the game in the back. The Storm has given the game multiple bullet wounds. These so called "Independant " directors want to empty the clip with a fatal head shot !!! :unamused:

News Ltd , well they seem to be the accomplice, denying everthing to save their own skin !!!

 

[tigergran]

Hi everyone

I am wondering what they think would have been a "fair" penalty!!

Personally, I don't think it was tough enough.

Tigergran

 

[Tigerdazz]

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=120830117939523" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Join my Facebook Group " Its time to go…....Melbourne Storm ".......if you would like to see these clowns thrown out of the competition !!! Just click on the above link.

 

[Suzie-Q]

I agree, Kay. How many millions are they over the cap? I agree with Balmain Tiger too. I think they are lucky to still be playing this season.

 

[Tigerdave]

You know, I kinda felt sorry for the club, thought the NRL would have been better off to try and see if the Storm could shed the players to fit under the cap and start earning points for a win, but I think this may have changed my mind…...

You brought the game into disrepute already this year, but obviously that was not enough....

 

[Tigerdave]

Rob Moodie on Grandstand, just asking for the Storm to be given a fair go…... please, did you give the other clubs a fair go the last few years cheating the cap?

 

[Jazza]

Seems as though Cammy Smith and the other guys had a fair bit of knowledge about the seperate contracts rorting the cap:

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/smiths-three-contracts/story-e6frexnr-1225875916005

Smith's three contracts
>
* By Phil Rothfield and Rebecca Wilson
* From: The Sunday Telegraph
* June 06, 2010 12:01AM
>
NRL salary cap investigators have discovered champion hooker Cameron Smith had THREE separate contracts with Melbourne Storm.
>
One was registered with the NRL, one was in a file at the Storm's administration headquarters and another was being hidden at the home of former CEO Matt Hanson.
>
The contracts, which were drawn up by disgraced former boss Brian Waldron, also included payments for a home renovation and a guaranteed commentary role at Fox Sports. Super League architect John Ribot negotiated the Fox Sports deal.
>
Smith continues to deny he was aware of any rorting.
>
Other instances of Storm stars having more than one contract have been uncovered by the investigators.
>
The Storm are $850,000 over the cap this season and an astonishing $1.5 million next season.
>
News Limited spokesman Greg Baxter yesterday told 2GB the company now believed board members and players knew many of the contracts were illegal.
>
"The amount of money is significantly higher than first estimated, which is a massive problem. There are people who have previously claimed to be entirely innocent in these events and we now have emails that prove otherwise," Baxter said.
>
"We have circumstantial evidence that suggests members of the board were involved. This is probably going to get worse before it gets better.
>
"There is now evidence that some players were aware these arrangements were illegal in terms of the salary cap rules and they were happy to go along with it. You'd have to now assume some of the star players won't be at the club next year."

Mind you it is by Rothfield and Wilson.

 

[Chris]

This has blown wide open now. I think there will be several nervous people in Melbourne at the moment.

 

[Glennb]

Seems as though Cammy Smith and the other guys had a fair bit of knowledge about the seperate contracts rorting the cap:

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/smiths-three-contracts/story-e6frexnr-1225875916005

News Limited spokesman Greg Baxter yesterday told 2GB the company now believed board members and players knew many of the contracts were illegal.
>
"The amount of money is significantly higher than first estimated, which is a massive problem. There are people who have previously claimed to be entirely innocent in these events and we now have emails that prove otherwise," Baxter said.
>
"We have circumstantial evidence that suggests members of the board were involved. This is probably going to get worse before it gets better.

Mind you it is by Rothfield and Wilson.

Hmmm looks like News Ltd are going to burn the directors to protect themselves. This is going to get very ugly.

Glenn

 

[Tigerdazz]

This mob realy take the cake eh ? This court case will blow up in their faces. As more and more of their grubby underhanded tactics are unearthed , it will become as plain as a nose on a face that their inclusion in the NRL should be terminated. ANY of their players found to be complicit should be BANNED from ANY form of rugby league here OR overseas , and criminal charges laid. If News Ltd is found in any way , shape or form to be complicit, they should ALSO face criminal prosicution.

Apart from the flagrant disregard the Storm has shown every other club & NRL in regards to the salary cap , whats the go onfield ? If I was the CEO of any of the other clubs I would REFUSE to play them on the grounds that their players now see fit to flout fair play and are comming up with cheap shots EVERY GAME. In Wests case , what if a cheap shot puts say Benji or Lote out for the season? Are they going to worry about a suspension? I think not. A hypothetical scenario , Lote is flying down the wing looking almost certain to score , Slater goes into the tackle and uses his knees and that famous ELBOW , and tears Lote's hamstring. Lote out for remainder of season , Slater out 4 weeks max….goes fishing in Inglis's boat ! No worries , playing for nothing anyway !!!

WRONG WRONG WRONG.......NRL....DAVID GALLOP.......GET RID OF THE STORM **NOW** :angry: :angry: :angry: