Melbourne Storm Breach Case

Mid-2010, the NRL Integrity Unit conducted an investigation into the Melbourne Storm’s salary cap, revealing that upwards of $3 million dollars’ was being paid out to star players illegitimately. Dedicated Storm fans have been left in dismay almost 6 years later, however, at the punishment handed down to the Parramatta Eels for committing the same misconduct, which NRL CEO Todd Greenberg has labelled as “a stain on our game”- breaching their $6.1 million dollar cap.

A copious amount of money was provided to Parramatta at the beginning of the 2016 Telstra Premiership season, but it appears that this was obviously not enough for the board, who desired to lure in key players with high-paying contracts. To carry out this process, Parramatta decided to allow third-parties to provide under-the-table payments to the club. It is estimated that between 2014 and 2018, $2.8 million dollars has been illegally allocated to players in what the NRL community views as an outrage.

When the Melbourne Storm breached

Parramatta incurred a $1 million dollar fine, was stripped of their 2016 Auckland Nines title and had their 12 premiership points withdrawn. To become cap-compliant, the club quickly released several players to other teams, and were allowed to compete for the 2016 premiership again. How could the Melbourne Storm be immediately barred from competing for the 2010 premiership, but, 6 years later, Parramatta is free to compete? Although Parramatta had no premierships to be stripped of, it appears that the Eels’ sanction is very lenient when compared to the Storm. It is this decision that has left Storm fans and ex-staff in a frenzy; “It is unjust that one team be dealt such harsh penalties without being heard, yet another heard then penalised” cried a Melbourne Storm fan, whilst former Storm CEO Ron Gauci spoke out on the contrast in penalty, labelling the difference as “inequitable, inconsistent and