The Storm Rorting Super Thread.....

[Jazza]

they make it sound bad with the 1.7million biut thats over 5 years which when broken down isnt massive

700,000 …......that's sevenHUNDRED THOUSAND for 2010....try to keep up...

When you work it out over 5 years, to me with em being over by 700 000 this year, they've actually gone further above the cap this year, then previous years. So its pretty massive to me as well.

 

[AndTheKungFoSing]

I understand the concern here for rugby league in general…. but the Storm are finished! If i was a player (i'm willing to give them the benefit of the doubt and believe they were unaware) i would be resigning from the club immediately! No club will want to prop these guys up? The NRL doesnt need them, they are a black hole and the game will never take off down there. Proof of this is the fact their membership numbers are down after they win the comp!

News LTD are leaving the game and the Storm will too imo.

I also see the NRL fast tracking the bears for next season... Lima to the Tigers too... mid season trade :wink:

Sucko Melbourne... sucko.

I bet if the NRL was serious, they'd uncover a bit of dirt on News LTD team 2 (Broncos)

 

[Geo]

Incredible news….I cant believe how many times this game gets it's nuts kicked in.

BTW what are you laughing for Geo? this crap aint funny.

Really…it's pretty funny.....I've been saying for ages the Storm are CHEATS.....It's not a level playing field.....I base that on the fact that they are owned 100% by News Limited who prop up this joke of a Club whatever the lose each year for the sake to say we are national....no one in Melbourne gives a rats arse about the Storm....you wait and see....

I see where News Ltd quickly distanced themselves from the Storm...but it is the utter nonsense to think that those paying the bills didn't have an inkling of what's going on....please...this is one of the biggest media companies in the World....

I feel contempt for their managment and little pity for the players and coaching staff.....Cameron Smith went on NRL on Fox(half owned by News Ltd :laughing: )and said...My signing with fox had nothing to do with me staying at the Storm....I would have still had this agreement even if I went to another club.....yeah right....

I feel very sad and angry as a supporter of a Club who plays by the rules....Yes .....Wests Tigers have been fined for breach of Cap but those where for miss-management and ruling errors not RORTING.....I'm so stoked Humphreys is here....Lortay contract was taken to the NRL every step of the way and approved BEFORE he signed on the dotted line....

I feel sad for the Storm fans and fans of Rugby League in general .....that such a thing could happen Again,,,but when I look at those in charge of the Storm Waldron and Ribot I have to laugh.....it's beyond a Joke.... :laughing:

 

[sunshine_coast_tiger]

Funny thing, I was speaking to a board member at the tigers last year and he stated then we were paying the full salary cap. I mentioned that our squad on paper didn't match some other sides (especially in number of test/origin level players) and the response given was they must have some great accountants.

In reality when you look at the squads for some sides it is obvious that they must be over. Hopefully this will make the playing field even more even.

 

[sunshine_coast_tiger]

As much as I'd love to give the NRL credit, there's that lingering feeling they didn't really do their job.

I mean, it's been happening for 5 years, and it took a whistle-blower to uncover it all.

Makes you think how much longer it could've gone on for…

… and by who else.

Given that Searle is 80% owner of the Titans I fear their internal auditing/due diligence is seriously remiss & dumb old Schuey take's his word. Need I even mention Easts, Brisbane & Manly.....

Schuey is not a qualified financial auditor & the dogs rort slipped by on his shift until two female business journos at Fairfax did some minor digging on the so-called Oasis development & uncovered payments to Price, Anasta & others.

They took this to Roy Masters etc & ONLY THEN the NRL took action!

Schuey is an incompetent buffoon who makes Ron look almost credible! (Almost.)

To be honest if we want the NRL salary cap to truly work the NRL auditors should be entitled not only to look at the clubs financial records but also all the individual players, any associated companies, their immediate and extended families financial records as well. It is the only way to catch the cheats. I for one don't believe the Storm are the only ones cheating the salary cap.

 

[Ryan]

The only club to never be fined for salary cap breaching is Manly… Now there has to be something going on over in the Peninsula.....

 

[MacDougall]

They should just give every team in the comp points for their games against Melbourne win, lose or draw. An extra game mid season with no result bearing would be kind of interesting. It would definitely make for an all out attacking game, new combos, set play practice. That's just my two cents anyway. I do understand that this doesn't really add up or make it fair but the system as it is isn't really fair, not every team plays ever team twice anyway so it is already uneven. This way at least Melbourne's performance has no effect on your teams result. I would be mighty stiff if our team needed a win to make the finals and Melbourne beat us in the last round.

 

[Jazza]

Well with many people saying that the Storm might not survive, what should happen?

If its obvious they're struggling financially this year, I say the NRL should be in discussions with the Central Coast for next season.

Under the current TV deal, the NRL is obliged to televise 8 games per week which obviously cant happen if a club folds and is also the reason why the Storm still have to play this year.

The Central Coast said they were ready last year when the Sharks were in big trouble, I dont see why they wouldnt be ready for next season if the Storm fold.

When the next TV deal arises, I'd bring in Perth to still give the comp a national feel and help with TV rights money, and either another Brisbane team, or a NSW North Coast team because there is 700km between Newcastle and the Gold Coast that would make it difficult for Juniors along that stretch.

That would make it an 18 team competition, which = 9 games, which should make up for the shortfall in TV with Melbourne not being there.

 

[weststigers]

Sad day for the game of Rugby League. However, history has shown that this great game has overcome many adversities over the years and has always come back stronger than ever.

Agreed. I think RL will bounce back.

P.S. Get your own avatar! :unamused:

 

[weststigers]

As far as policing the cap goes. The NRL should impose that ALL payments to players, from the club or otherwise be paid to the NRL directly and then the NRL distribute that money to the players. That way, it is much easier to catch cheats because the NRL has a full understanding of what each player earns and how their salary is packaged.

Further to this, players need to be subjected to audits as well.

This type of fraud is not easy to catch, especially in the early stages and I dare say, had there not been a whistle blower, we might still have the situation going on today. I think a reward of say, $50,000 (which comes out of the $500,000 fine) would encourage more whistle blowing on this type of activity and help the NRL in its quest for a fair system.

My question is, what would the NRL do if they found more clubs this year breaching the cap? I'm sure there are more doing it. Would they strip everyone of points? It would be disastrous! This will hurt Melbourne and rugby league in the short-term. If you were a Storm fan would you turn up to another game this season? What's the point?

Every club that has lost to the Storm (or any other club cheating the cap) over the past 5 years has had their season affected in some way and in many cases could have been the difference between playing finals and finishing 9th or 10th. More needs to be done to discourage the behaviour because it doesn't just affect Manly or Parra. The real magnitude of how it has affected each club cannot be calculated and we are left asking ourselves 'what if?'. The system needs to be looked at with more emphasis on catching it at the root rather than at the end.

Anyone remember Enron?

 

[Eddie]

Whatever way you look at it, Melbourne Storm as a club are now in dire straights. I can't see a way back for this club.

I couldn't care less if the club folded and was never heard of again. Never been a fan. However I saw a few of their fans on the news distraught. It was heartbreaking. Imagine for a second that was our Premiership stripped away, you would feel cheated, angry and gutted. I feel sorry for the good people involved in their club.

That arrogant pig headed Waldron, no wonder he did a runner 2 months ago. Knew what was coming. The penalties are fair in my opinion. You just can't let this sort of elaborate rorting any leniency what so ever.

 

[Yossarian]

The league will do a lot to try and save the Storm because of the Pay-TV profitability and it would be a major setback for the NRL to leave Melbourne just as the AFL puts in a second Sydney team.

In terms of expansion, Central Coast is an obvious goer, Mid North Coast doesn't have a big enough population centred in one location, ditto Central Qld, Perth could be a chance especially if the Force fall over. You'd really have to consider a second NZ team. I really think league can make some massive inroads over there looking at some of the crowds the yawnion is pulling these days.

 

[Geo]

http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/pages/Central-Coast-Bears/72707929443" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
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How pumped are these guys with recent developments,,,,,,

Central Coast deserves a team….

 

[Marshall_magic]

Whatever way you look at it, Melbourne Storm as a club are now in dire straights. I can't see a way back for this club.

I couldn't care less if the club folded and was never heard of again. Never been a fan. **However I saw a few of their fans on the news distraught.** It was heartbreaking. Imagine for a second that was our Premiership stripped away, you would feel cheated, angry and gutted. I feel sorry for the good people involved in their club.

That arrogant pig headed Waldron, no wonder he did a runner 2 months ago. Knew what was coming. The penalties are fair in my opinion. You just can't let this sort of elaborate rorting any leniency what so ever.

Agree with this, I'd hate to lose my team, and I'd hate to see any other fans lose their team. The fans do nothing wrong, and suffer due to the greed of the higher ups at the club, disgraceful.

I really hope the Storm don't fold, and League in Melbourne doesn't die. It would be a waste of 12 years good work, I really think they've started to make some serious inroads, and it's all thrown out the window. But, before we say their finished, we need to see what sort of crowds they draw for the rest of this year, and possibly in 2011 (when they are no longer irrelevent in terms of the competition).

 

[Marshall_magic]

If Melbourne do fall over, CC should be the next team brought in. You also have the likes of Wellington, Perth, Central Qld who can be brought in further down the road.

 

[chilbury]

look i wish people would get this expansion interstate out of their heads, it costs the NRL too much money to have teams in AFL states, Look at storm no jouiors no fan base no wonder,,, they had to Cheat to stay alive in the comp,
You wont see another interstate team in years
NRL is dying… very sad..

 

[alien]

Perth should come in if Melbourne folds. I think it will be up to the fans in Melbourne if Melbourne survives or not. If most of their fans turn their backs on Melbourne then Melbourne are stuffed.

 

[Juro]

I reckon the only way for rugby league not to die is to expand. Sure, if rugby league was to only be played in NSW, QLD and ACT, it would go on okay for many years to come. But other sports are expanding and getting benefits from expansion. Television rights are a major source of income for sports and those who cover more of the map are much more desirable for the stations. If other sports get more and more revenue, they will pay their players more and more. Young sportspeople will see they can earn more in the other sports and the most talented will move on. The standard of the NRL would suffer, leading to lower ratings, leading to less money, and so forth.

The same goes to the drain overseas. The English super league is looking to expand further into France. If successful, they will grow stronger, increasing the drain overseas.

It would not be a quick death but a slow withering on the vine.

The only answer I see is to invest in the NRL. The Storm may lose money now but even having been around for a little over a decade, they are still young. They were starting to show positive signs of growth and it will be a terrible shame to lose everything fought for if the NRL turns its back and walks away.

 

[Yossarian]

look i wish people would get this expansion interstate out of their heads, it costs the NRL too much money to have teams in AFL states, Look at storm no jouiors no fan base no wonder,,, they had to Cheat to stay alive in the comp,
You wont see another interstate team in years
NRL is dying… very sad..

The sad thing is the Storm were actually starting to make some progress with their juniors. Their SG Ball team has been going gangbusters and it was almost all Victorian produced players. Anyway the big picture item is TV revenue, particularly Pay TV - the NRL's support for teams is likely to be closely linked to that although the CC Bears may be an exception (i.e. I think they'll get a team even though it won't really expand TV audiences a great deal).

 

[red_dogg]

they make it sound bad with the 1.7million biut thats over 5 years which when broken down isnt massive

700,000 …......that's sevenHUNDRED THOUSAND for 2010....try to keep up...

yeah and they tried to get willie mason aswell