NRL Grand Final: Salary cap denials have you feeling Blue and White?
Columnist By Luke Doherty, 24 Sep 2012 Luke Doherty is a Roar Expert
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Seven players head into the NRL grand final with redemption in purple on their minds.
Billy Slater, Dane Nielsen, Will Chambers, Cooper Cronk, Cameron Smith, Ryan Hoffman and Ryan Hinchcliffe played in one or both of the two premierships ripped from their grasp in 2010.
It must’ve been a slightly strange existence since that time, not only for those players, but for their team-mates who are no longer in Melbourne with them.
Those who competed in the 2007 and 2009 deciders feel like premiers and champions.
Ask them and they’ll tell you that they still are.
They did the hard work during the year, lifted the trophy at the end of it, celebrated hard and have a premiership ring in safe keeping.
They don’t care what other people think and try to think even less about the moment when everything they worked for was taken away.
The only problem is that the history books provide a constant reminder.
Flick through the NRL media guide and there’s either an asterisk or the words ‘withdrawn’ next to all of the clubs recent achievements.
It’s a theme repeated in every NRL annual review or preview guide at the start of the year.
The players have been force fed their medicine and the bitter taste continues to linger.
Every question is now met with a refusal to accept what the history books reflect.
It’s an attitude that has the potential to confuse, even deter fans from willing Melbourne to win.
The club breached the cap while others played by the rules and the NRL determined that the penalty should be the harshest the modern game has seen.
A refusal to accept that, while understandable from the players point of view, is a little like telling the man on the street that grass is blue and the sky is green.
It’s just not the case, no matter how hard you want it to be.
So, if you’re a neutral, has this attitude got you cheering for the blue and white brigade on Sunday?
The current management team at the Storm, led by chief executive Ron Gauci, have done a sensational job in getting the club past what many saw as a terminal penalty.
Still, it’s highly likely that this week you’ll hear one of those seven players say that they’re still a premiership winner.
Will that change how you vote on Sunday?
You can follow Luke Doherty on Twitter @Luke_Doherty and on Sky News Australia.
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September 24th 2012 @ 7:03am
Westius said | September 24th 2012 @ 7:03am | Report comment
There’s some irony in a salary cap scandal compelling people to support the Bulldogs – this is the team that in 2002 was fined $500,000 and stripped of 37 competition points for exactly that!
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September 24th 2012 @ 7:06am
steve b said | September 24th 2012 @ 7:06am | Report comment
Some Storm fans still held a grudge but most seem to say it was in the past so move on. I think most of you are ready to forgive and forget a time that no doubt will go down in rugby league history as a shocker … to whoever wins good luck to them, it should be one hell of a game.
September 24th 2012 @ 8:39am
Meesta Cool said | September 24th 2012 @ 8:39am | Report comment
Thanks for that comment Steve, I hope that you have forgiveness planned also. after all it is only a game!.
September 24th 2012 @ 9:01am
steve b said | September 24th 2012 @ 9:01am | Report comment
Meesta cheers mate yes i went on a bit of a fishing expedition yesterday ,no animosity intended and yes sorry if i offended anyone that was not my intention , only to get a feel of what others thought ,bit over the top i admit ,have had the slap from the boss .Will modify my behaviour in future comments , and again apologies to the Storm fans ….
September 24th 2012 @ 9:29am
Meesta Cool said | September 24th 2012 @ 9:29am | Report comment
thans Steve. constant comments about the Rort, just give fuel to Victoria’s AFL fans.. We don’t only cop it from friendly fire. it is a constant barrage of “Cheat, cheat” and it intensifies at this time of year!.
I have even been labelled a cheat because I love the game and my team, how sad is that!.
September 24th 2012 @ 3:16pm
stormgal said | September 24th 2012 @ 3:16pm | Report comment
Cheers Steve!
Have followed your posts with much interest and congratulate you on your new approach, admittedly it cant be easy for a para fan re: 2009. However your transparency speaks volumes mate. Hey 2013, you can still be out there cussing the hell out of my team and me likewise, but at the end of the day lets all enjoy our great game.
Regards and game on…
Stormgal
September 24th 2012 @ 9:57am
Renegade said | September 24th 2012 @ 9:57am | Report comment
Good stuff Steve b.
That’s a much better approach! Let’s just enjoy the game this weekend – it’s gonna be a beauty.
September 24th 2012 @ 7:40am
Phelpsy said | September 24th 2012 @ 7:40am | Report comment
Im with storm. They were treated unfairly and those premierships are still there , I don’t care what some book says. They won them and no one or no organization can take that off them, what’s on paper will never replace what’s in the heart
September 24th 2012 @ 8:41am
Campaign to return Melbournes lost Premierships said | September 24th 2012 @ 8:41am | Report comment
Well said Phelpsy, no one denys what a few senior Managers at Melbourne Storm did was wrong, no one doubts that they should have been punished and punished severely but the transgression was financial and so should have been the penalty as it was in the case of the dogs and the warriors and with more minor infringements by just about every club in the comp. If Melbourne have shown us one thing its that winning is about structure and strategy, and teamwork and guts not about how much money they are being paid. You cannot rewrite history, melbourne can never shake this “cheats” tag now but neither can anyone ever deny that they won those premierships. They had the same number of players on the field as anyone else but they played the better footy and they won the game. Winning those games was not determined by how many dollars were heading into the bank account.
The salary cap was designed for one purpose and one purpose only and that was to stop rich clubs from poaching all the best talent. Melbourne never ever did that. In fact Melbourne’s rorting of the cap was in protection of players they had developed, to stop other teams poaching them.
Melbourne have had their time in the dog house (no pun intended), they have suffered greatly for the actions of the few, they suffered financially and they suffered the loss of points in 2010. The removal of those premierships was an over reaction by a jumped up lawyer with no real heart in the game. Those Premierships should be returned to the team that won them, pride should be restored to the club and players that worked so hard for them, the NRL should recognise that the punishment has been served, to forgive but not forget, to restore the lost Premierships and show the world that the NRL is bigger than this whole sorry affair. Give their long suffering innocent fans the pride that was so cruelly snatched away not by professionals playing this great game but by back room administraitors who always think they know best. Restore those premierships now!
September 24th 2012 @ 10:03am
Renegade said | September 24th 2012 @ 10:03am | Report comment
Mate,
I’m cheering the storm this week and i’m more than happy to fight the cause so people refer to this team as champions for their on field achievements rather than cheats for what their off field administrators.
But the club got punished because they were in the wrong, i don’t think Gallop had any other choice….i feel for the players and rather than going on about what’s happened in the past i think if your a storm fan you should just enjoy this week and focus on how sweet it will be if they happen to lift the trophy this sunday.
Surely, no one will ever have to post about what occurred in 2010 ever again.
September 24th 2012 @ 11:46am
I'mastormtrooper2 said | September 24th 2012 @ 11:46am | Report comment
That should be Premierships and Minor Premierships, because in my book every game in every seaons leads to 1 team being rugby league champions … And, of course the fact still remains, they weren’t lost, THEY WHERE WON !!! For any record to be etched from the history books of the National Rugby League competition, is not only a blot on the game, but a slap in the face of the coaches and players of each and every team who competed against the Storm since 2005 … For the Storm to have competed in and won or lost a Minor Premiership or Premiership game, and to have those records deemed nul and void, without some form of compensation to the other side, leaves a valid question about right or wrong and confusion in the hearts and minds of leagues most important commodities – members, supporters, sponsors and fans … If the Minor Premiership and Premiership results can be so easily erased from the face of history, then what does that mean about the authenticity of every NRL game the Melbourne Storm played against their 15 rival clubs and NRL teams, for 26 games over a 5 year period – approximately 130 games in total, without counting the finals … Shouldn’t each and every one of those games be deemed illegal too, because according to the NRL the Melbourne Storm fielded an Illegal roster of players with far superior talent and capabilities apparently, according to their contracts and earnings, then those of their challenges and foes, with the NRL deeming the Storm not only had an unfair advantage of skill and ability, for 5 long years, even though the records between 2005 and 2010 clearly show they were certainly unbeatable, and most definately insumountable, but also deeming the salary cap rort as both unprofessional and criminal … Having half a decade of NRL competition scrubbed from the record books would look somewhat strange and without doubt that sized BLOT, could not go unnoticed and would clearly show the true extent of the damage it brought to the game … It’s really is time for the ARLC to cut to the chase and decide if the Melbourne Storm should have their records reinstated into the history books of Rugby League, and if not, then they have no choice, for the betterment of the game, clubs, players and fans to put the processes in place to ensure the records are not only rectified, but also factual … THEN , AND ONLY THEN, CAN WE ALL MOVE ON … NOW BRING ON THE 2012 GRAND FINAL !!! GO THE MIGHTY MELBOURNE STORM – NO FEAR, NO FOE, NO FAIL, THIS SEASON IS OURS !!!
September 24th 2012 @ 12:02pm
Chop said | September 24th 2012 @ 12:02pm | Report comment
Pull your head out of wherever it is and face the reality that your teams administration cheated blatently and the players were either stupid or massively naive.
The whole episode is a blight on the game and the sooner the players involved accept responsibility along with the supporters living in fantasy that their team did nothing wrong, then and only then may the game move forward.
September 24th 2012 @ 12:20pm
planko said | September 24th 2012 @ 12:20pm | Report comment
Not Stupid or Naive … Cam Smith is not stupid I actually like him as a player … But one those playing qualities is arrogance. They thought they would get away with afterall it was their company that owned the league literally we can do whatever we want ! It was arrogance.
September 24th 2012 @ 12:45pm
Campaign to return Melbournes lost Premierships said | September 24th 2012 @ 12:45pm | Report comment
No it wasn’t arrogance. It was single mindedness. Singlemindedness to focus on the job that they were given and not to try and second guess what highly paid managers and administraitors were up to. These players didn’t know what the financial situation was, if schubert couldn’t work it out how the hell do you think smith could have – clairvoyance ????
September 24th 2012 @ 12:47pm
planko said | September 24th 2012 @ 12:47pm | Report comment
Now who is being Stupid or Naive ? Yes they did and it just to bad nobody agree’s with you….
September 24th 2012 @ 4:39pm
Campaign to return Melbournes lost Premierships said | September 24th 2012 @ 4:39pm | Report comment
If I am being stupid or naive then so must the Victorian Police, the Australian Tax Authorities and the NRL all of whom investigated this affair and found no evidence to take it further.
September 24th 2012 @ 5:09pm
Jimbo said | September 24th 2012 @ 5:09pm | Report comment
What exactly would the police or the ATO have to do with it? As long as the players were paying income tax, I can’t see how it is illegal.
September 24th 2012 @ 12:13pm
planko said | September 24th 2012 @ 12:13pm | Report comment
Joel Monaghan is known for ? Just one photo with a dog…… Melbourne Storm are know for ? You get caught just once in grand style
September 24th 2012 @ 12:53pm
Renegade said | September 24th 2012 @ 12:53pm | Report comment
Storm trooper,
I’ll say it again mate….just cheer them on to victory this weekend and move on from 2010.
Your actually giving people reason to call them cheats by trying to put forward cases like the above…..the less people talk about it the more we can admire the accomplishments they achieve on the field with this sunday being the day they get to stick to everyone who thought they were only winning premierships because greg inglis got a boat.
September 24th 2012 @ 1:04pm
planko said | September 24th 2012 @ 1:04pm | Report comment
Agree with you Renegade the first step is admitting there is a problem. Denial just sounds like defending something that cannot be defended.
September 24th 2012 @ 1:25pm
I'mastormtrooper2 said | September 24th 2012 @ 1:25pm | Report comment
Point taken Renegade, but I don’t agree … I have an opinion and it has little to do with whether YOU believe I should bite my tongue, or hide under a rock, just because YOU believe putting it out there, might stir the pot … Put simply, I don’t believe in that strategy or your persuation … I don’t mind anothers opinions, even if they mind mine, and neither do I care what others condemn or believe is truth and or justice … I am my own person, I hope others commenting in this space are too and can live with themselves and look in the mirror every night … THEY ARE NOT PERFECT AND NEITHER AM I OR YOU, OR THE MELBOURNE STORM OR ANY OTHER NRL CLUB … I’m neither uneducated or naive and I really don’t appreaciate being told to “SSHH”, because you don’t believe in my ideals, philosophies or my right to express them … And, I certainly don’t think there wasn’t more to the salary cap issue in 2010 then prevailed, on either side of the fence, I just don’t believe any penalty should have been handed down until criminal charges where laid and a full, and open legal process proved, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that the NRL’s suspicions, accusations, announcement and report, that some obviously assume proves guilt over innocence, could be fairly challenged in a court of law, regardless of the ramifications to anyone concerned or the NRL and or the Melbourne Storms ability to continue in the NRL competiton … SO BE IT … So, if you don’t mind, I’ll beg your pardon and wish you well … What I feel and say won’t change, whether the Storm win or lose on Sunday … I’ve been supporting them for 15 years …
September 24th 2012 @ 2:32pm
planko said | September 24th 2012 @ 2:32pm | Report comment
Take the first step….
September 24th 2012 @ 3:27pm
Renegade said | September 24th 2012 @ 3:27pm | Report comment
Storm trooper,
Well that’s fine….however in my opnion your just pre-empting more comments about your club being cheats and thats where your having to waste your time defending your club.
You are obviously a very loyal supporter and i’ll be going for the storm this week but i don’t agree with all of what you have said….had the club not done anything wrong they wouldn’t be in this situation.
I feel for all the players, coaches involved but something had to be done…..trying to convince others that the club played fair and square in the past is irrelevant. They are playing fair and square now and are in the grand final…i still believe they were the best those years and i’ll leave it at that. I’m happy to just focus on the 2012 season and i think storm fans would be a lot happier focussing on the same as well.
September 24th 2012 @ 3:42pm
I'mastormtrooper2 said | September 24th 2012 @ 3:42pm | Report comment
renegade … you obviously work on the premise … “if at first you don’t succeed try, try again” … good 4 U … now do what you preach and let go … of my leg … simply – please move on an harrass someone else …
September 24th 2012 @ 3:47pm
stormgal said | September 24th 2012 @ 3:47pm | Report comment
cheers stormtrooper,
)
I commend you on your conviction and omg the pain of 2010 was almost unbearable….. almost. For me personally, 2012 is our chance of redemption (beyond reasonable doubt!!!) Its like the old saying “cant teach an old dog new tricks” well same thing, once people have formed an opinion its kind of like pushing shit up a hill (for lack of better words) to change ones opinion. You can keep yours, as will I but at the end of the day our boys are on fire and need some good ole purple pride, so lets just get behind them and cheer them @ the grand final (me from Melbourne
September 24th 2012 @ 3:54pm
Renegade said | September 24th 2012 @ 3:54pm | Report comment
Fair enough mate….i get the feeling you actually like defending the side when others are putting sh*t on them, which is the sign of a loyal follower.
I will let go of your leg now lol….are you attending the GF this sunday?
September 24th 2012 @ 4:41pm
I'mastormtrooper2 said | September 24th 2012 @ 4:41pm | Report comment
stormgal … i appreciate your committment to the MS, and the team … besides being a storm supporter for 15 years, i’ve been a fan of rugby league for over 50 years and my passion for the game or the storm has never wained, irrespecitive of what was has been good or bad about the game, players or the community … unfortunately, i won’t be able to attend the GF on sunday, but i have been assisting a local family who are currently experiencing medical harships, to have their very first GF experience, and yes, they are all about purple pride, and cheering the storm boys on whether they win or lose … and, they also support and share the same opinions as the majority of storm supporters do … melbourne storm – braver hearts – #1 – this season is ours …
September 24th 2012 @ 12:11pm
Dayer said | September 24th 2012 @ 12:11pm | Report comment
I agree 100% give back the titles to the mighty Storm … over reaction by the “THEN” CEO and the NRL board to strip them off those titles.
True champions are the Storms. go the storm troopers …
September 24th 2012 @ 9:03pm
stormgal said | September 24th 2012 @ 9:03pm | Report comment
Hey stormtrooper are u by chance in the thundersquad?
All I can say is that we could do with more like you, like I said before I admire your conviction you epitomise a true stormer with heart (probably teach us a thing or two as well). and youre correct 100% our season it is!
Go the mighty Melbourne Storm!!!
September 24th 2012 @ 10:34pm
I'mastormtrooper2 said | September 24th 2012 @ 10:34pm | Report comment
No, I’m not in the thundergirls ??? I’m from North Queensland and it is difficult to be “connected” as such to the fan base in Melbourne, which is understandable … Although I’m sure the coaches and players of the Storm and the Bulldogs would have been stoked with the turnout of fans that attended their mid-season clash in Mackay at Virgin Stadium … Albiet the Dogs downed our boys that day, but it was during the State of Origin period and the Storm did not have their full contigent on the field …
I have no illusions, it will be a tough encounter for both teams this Sunday, but although I hope and pray that the Storm will be the 2012 Premiers – It’s up t them … I’m not backward in being forward in showing my support and send supportive and positive messages, quotes and poems throughout the seaons … My husband and I and many Storm fans from our district try and make an effort to go to the Storm v Cowboys games and to at least one Storm game in Melbourne each season … I’ve been to a couple of GF’s, but this year, as I mentioned I’ve been working on ensuring that my friends get an opportunity to have the experience and the pleasure of seeing their team live in a GF arena … They have just sent me an email saying how excited they are with their seats and the opportunity of going to the Storm after party …
… I told them that it might pay for me to send the players a Storm warning … 
…
They are very devoted to the club and the players and I also sent the CEO, Mr Gauci an email about their die-hard effort in making it to the Melbourne game between the Cowboys and the Storm in July this year … One hell of a trip of determination and desire, regardless of the obstacles they had to negotiate, for a first time experience to see the boys play at AAMI Stadium – Most people would have thrown in the towel and so would have I … Gav and Lou simply believe their team are more than worth it and it gives them so much pleasure to see them play – their passion that binds us and gives me reason to believe in courage over adversity and that winning doesn’t always mean coming first … Colleen
September 24th 2012 @ 10:20am
Matt said | September 24th 2012 @ 10:20am | Report comment
No they just kept misplacing the paperwork and needed them to sign again
September 24th 2012 @ 11:25am
Campaign to return Melbournes lost Premierships said | September 24th 2012 @ 11:25am | Report comment
The difference is that their cheating didn’t steal talent from other clubs it was to protect all the hard work they had done, protect the investment they had made. Very different scenario from a Nathan Tinkler buying talent to win a premiership.
As for players signing 2 contracts, it is every player’s (employee’s) responsibility to earn as much as they can for the welfare of their families. It is not their responsibility to worry about salary caps or the financial doings of the club (company) How many of you that are employees have ever asked the company if they are exceeding their budget when you are offered a pay rise ? What none of you ?, thought not.
September 24th 2012 @ 12:18pm
Dayer said | September 24th 2012 @ 12:18pm | Report comment
well written CMP.
September 24th 2012 @ 12:23pm
planko said | September 24th 2012 @ 12:23pm | Report comment
Your right they did not steal talent from any side … They stole talent from the whole league. Every club that wins or get’s close has to shed players and they did not. So they quite literally held on to players they should not have been able to thus stealing potential players from everyone. Dayer well Swallowed…
September 24th 2012 @ 12:50pm
Dayer said | September 24th 2012 @ 12:50pm | Report comment
blah blah blah …
Planko well swallowed …
September 24th 2012 @ 12:53pm
planko said | September 24th 2012 @ 12:53pm | Report comment
I dont swallow anything buddy lol written cmp
September 24th 2012 @ 3:24pm
Ken said | September 24th 2012 @ 3:24pm | Report comment
As a supporter of another team, I’ve forgiven the Storm (and was actually cheering them on against Manly last week) but delusional comments like this from supporters and players makes it hard to truly move on. The Storm were not treated harshly in 2010, in fact they got the softest penalty the NRL could get away with and still have integrity.
‘The difference is that their cheating didn’t steal talent from other clubs it was to protect all the hard work they had done, protect the investment they had made.’
Like when the Storm grabbed Chase Stanley (who had already played international footy for NZ) from St George for 2010? Even if you ignore purchases like this, and say they were just ‘protecting their investments’, it was completely unfair because other teams weren’t allowed to do the same. They cheated so they didn’t win anything.
September 24th 2012 @ 3:34pm
planko said | September 24th 2012 @ 3:34pm | Report comment
Ken they did not do anything wrong. None of the teams senior players talked about their contracts … Just like at work nobody talks about what other people get paid do they ? Non of their managers thought it was weird to sign more than one contract ?
September 24th 2012 @ 8:03pm
Ken said | September 24th 2012 @ 8:03pm | Report comment
‘None of the teams senior players talked about their contracts … Just like at work nobody talks about what other people get paid do they ? Non of their managers thought it was weird to sign more than one contract ?’
Yes, a lot of people have trouble believing that handy set of unbelievable coincidences. But no-one proved otherwise and for the purposes of getting on with things most of us are happy to let that go.
It’s all moot though. If they truly didn’t know then the players were duped like everyone else in the comp. It doesn’t change a thing, the Melbourne Storm were not a legitimate NRL team during those years and they were ineligible to win anything.
September 24th 2012 @ 3:58pm
Renegade said | September 24th 2012 @ 3:58pm | Report comment
Ken,
I’m in the same boat as you….that’s probably the 3rd time we’ve agreed on something this week which is quite scary.
I’ve forgiven and will be cheering on the storm this sunday, i really want to see this champion side get the honours they deserve but i feel the same emotions as you regarding some of the delusional comments.
September 24th 2012 @ 4:51pm
Tim Prentice said | September 24th 2012 @ 4:51pm | Report comment
Hey Roarers! This is Grand Final week.
I realise there is still simmering heat and angst over the Storm salary cap issue and Roar writers such as expert Luke D are fully entitled to raise the issue.
Speaking personally, I have had a filing cabinet full of this stuff. There is a rather large game on the horizon – let’s get excited about it and not get stuck or drown in the swamp of the past.
It’s a long, long break until the next RL game so maybe we should forget salary caps, gallops, free boats and waldrons and focus our interest/excitement on what shapes as a classic decider.
I really have had enough of the anti-Melbourne sentiment and stories about titles that should be restored etc etc etc.
Melbourne Storm, circa, 2012, have done a mighty job to qualify with a re-built, re-fashioned team. So have the Doggies.
Let’s enthuse over this mouth-watering contest. It could be the best game in decades with so many potential scenarios, and wall-to-wall stars on show.
On this site tomorrow, I have written what I think is an interesting yarn about one of the lesser known GF players who is heading for the most dizzying week of his young life.
I hope you like it and would appreciate any comments you care to offer about this player and the game – not its former shame . . .
September 24th 2012 @ 8:15pm
Renegade said | September 24th 2012 @ 8:15pm | Report comment
Absolutely Tim,
We have the two best sides in the competition playing in a Grand Final this week yet every comment references back to what happened 3 years ago…..
What about Slater vs Barba, Smith vs Ennis, etc
September 24th 2012 @ 8:27pm
Tim Prentice said | September 24th 2012 @ 8:27pm | Report comment
Renegade, I am really up for this game. So many possibilities.
Wish it were tomorrow afternoon (notice, not tomorrow night!!).
September 24th 2012 @ 5:00pm
I'mastormtrooper2 said | September 24th 2012 @ 5:00pm | Report comment
ken – the word delusional is derogotory and demeaning … you somehow take the higher ground in thinking that your opinion is more worthy and therefore correct … it is inappropriate for you to determine the mind-set of others on this forum, just to make yourself feel better … if you can’t be fair, please be kind …
September 24th 2012 @ 11:53am
I'mastormtrooper2 said | September 24th 2012 @ 11:53am | Report comment
Jimbo, very presumptious of you to determine that the players signed 2 contracts … It is very unfair for you to summise on something that has not been categorically proven, and for most part is not true and perhaps, for you to get the facts, you might like to take up that issue with the players you accuse of such things … Now that would be courageous of you …
September 24th 2012 @ 1:34pm
The (not so) Special One said | September 24th 2012 @ 1:34pm | Report comment
Errr – it was confirmed in all reports at the time. There were 2 filing cabinets in the CEO’s office with multiple contracts – apparently it was the discovery of these filing cabinets/multiple contracts when doing an audit that led to them being busted.
September 24th 2012 @ 4:54pm
I'mastormtrooper2 said | September 24th 2012 @ 4:54pm | Report comment
TnsSO – you’re comment is unequivically out of order and totally ill-informed and incorrect …
September 24th 2012 @ 11:59am
Chop said | September 24th 2012 @ 11:59am | Report comment
How were they treated unfairly?
What about all the other clubs who stayed within the rules and lost to a bunch of cheats? I can’t stomach the fact the players still there are dismissing the actions of their club saying ‘we don’t care we broke the rules, we still won’.
Makes me dispise them even more, I can’t stomach watching 2 out of the 3 teams I dislike the most (manly still #1) play in a GF, I’m going to a movie instead.
September 24th 2012 @ 12:48pm
Campaign to return Melbournes lost Premierships said | September 24th 2012 @ 12:48pm | Report comment
OK Chop, can you name one club that has stayed within the salary cap rules over the last few years ?
September 24th 2012 @ 12:51pm
planko said | September 24th 2012 @ 12:51pm | Report comment
Cronulla, Manly you know why cause there books indicate they cannot afford to pay anymore. In fact I would go a far as to say up until this year Cronulla not only has it not breached I would say it has been significanlty under.
Most of the Sydney clubs are only viable cause of enormous grants from their league’s clubs.
September 24th 2012 @ 1:18pm
Chop said | September 24th 2012 @ 1:18pm | Report comment
There’s a difference between an administrative breach (paying match payments to players outside the top 25 because of injuries) and the deliberate breaking of the rules as seen by Melbourne and the Bulldogs.
That’s what you don’t seem to understand, it’s the deliberate nature of the rorting that has everyone upset with the Storm’s cheating the cap.
The fact that the players are in complete denial just makes it harder to stomach for supporters of every other club.
September 24th 2012 @ 4:00pm
I'mastormtrooper2 said | September 24th 2012 @ 4:00pm | Report comment
Good for you Chop – ‘ave a great time without us …
September 24th 2012 @ 12:16pm
Dayer said | September 24th 2012 @ 12:16pm | Report comment
Same players REGARDLESS OF THE PAY CHECK … these are the players the storm develop by themselves so should be fair for them to keep them, not develop them for other clubs. It was the management that messed up and by right should have been fined heavily and not the knee=jerk reaction of stripping them off their titles. they are still the champions of 07 and 09. PERIOD.
September 24th 2012 @ 8:23am
Boomshanka said | September 24th 2012 @ 8:23am | Report comment
Forget feeling Blue and White, or Purple, I’m seething Red.
Just found out that yet again, if Melbourne win, we’ll be denied the chance to see the post match presentation thanks to the NRL’s media partner, who’s decided that we’d rather watch the news. We have to sit through the pre match crap (music bought to us by Sony music etc…), yet rugby league is the loser again.
Forget the billion dollar media deal. If the muppets at League House have given us another five years of this, they seriously need turfing out.
AFL supporters in Sydney will get over twelve hours of their grand final game come Saturday. why do supporters of the storm in its home city only get the game???
I’m F..ing livid!!!!!!
September 24th 2012 @ 10:06am
Renegade said | September 24th 2012 @ 10:06am | Report comment
Mate,
That’s a f**** disgrace…..is it even on the main channel or are they showing it on Gem?
September 24th 2012 @ 10:34am
Boomshanka said | September 24th 2012 @ 10:34am | Report comment
Nah its all on Nine – At 1pm we get a 1955 movie “Blood Alley”, followed by Farmer wants a wife and then coverage starts at 4.30pm. 7pm its cut to Melbourne News.
Gem are playing a 1957 movie “The Admirable Crichton” during the NRL Grand final.
Just shows how much Nine cares about our sport. Home of Rugby League – My Arse!
September 24th 2012 @ 10:39am
Matt said | September 24th 2012 @ 10:39am | Report comment
Obviously you don’t know how to run a network, you spend $900 million on a show then play a 1950′s movie instead on the biggest rating show of the year, leave it to them, they’re churning out profit after profit, they know what they’re doing.
September 24th 2012 @ 10:44am
Boomshanka said | September 24th 2012 @ 10:44am | Report comment
It was only two years ago, they delayed the State of Origin into “the World Capital of Sport”.
A couple of years ago the Nine Network was apparently worth $5Billion (when Packer sold to CVC). With a supposed value now just a tad over $2 Billion they obviously know what they’re doing.
How dare the sporting public think otherwise.
September 24th 2012 @ 10:51am
Matt said | September 24th 2012 @ 10:51am | Report comment
It’s beyond retardation. If my GF organised dinner as poorly as they organise their shows she’d get booted.
They’re buying rights to a show, play the damn thing!
September 24th 2012 @ 10:50am
bbt said | September 24th 2012 @ 10:50am | Report comment
Channel 9 don’t give a rat’s about the NRL. If they had promoted it when they first got the rights, 9 would now have much better ratings, and thus show the whole event. Ultimately it gets back to Gallop and the NRL leadership – or lack of. The AFL gave the Swans and Lions salary cap concessions, financial support etc etc because they saw that growing the game leads to bigger TV payouts. The game and all clubs benefit.
The Storm got nothing above and beyond what a legacy club in Sydney get, let alone the Broncos. Once the Super League cast offs retired, how was Storm expected to build and team and not fold? The demise of Storm would have impacted the NRL TV rights, and given the AFL the free kick they had hoped for.
Players get outside contracts for sponsorships etc, that is common in all codes. The Storm players were never going to get the top ups that “friends” donate to players in the various code’s heartland. What to do? No one has yet addressed this basic issue, or the fact that News Ltd were writing the Storm’s cheques, and also owned half the competition. The results of News Ltd’s investigation has never been made public, the police found no evidence of fraud or misrepresentation.
….and some one can correct me, but I believe that 3rd party deals for players are now exempt from the salary cap as long as they are approved.
September 24th 2012 @ 11:17am
Matt said | September 24th 2012 @ 11:17am | Report comment
Pretty sure 3rd party count towards the cap. The benefit to clubs is you don’t need to pay them cash, $500k salary could be $300k them $200k sponsors.
Otherwise of course you’d pay them $50k through you and $450k through “sponsors” (which could be say your leagues club etc, too many loopholes)
September 24th 2012 @ 11:21am
bbt said | September 24th 2012 @ 11:21am | Report comment
…that is why I made the comment that they have to be approved. Otherwise you are absolutely correct.
September 24th 2012 @ 11:34am
Matt said | September 24th 2012 @ 11:34am | Report comment
I’m pretty sure they are still part of the cap if they are through the club.
If there is some deal randomly arranged via a 3rd party and the agent, I don’t believe that counts.
Don’t quote me on it though!
September 24th 2012 @ 12:00pm
I'mastormtrooper2 said | September 24th 2012 @ 12:00pm | Report comment
As did Darren Lockyer and many other current and former rugby league players … Johnathon Thurston is leagues highest paid player on $700,000 … But not for long apparently, because Greg Inglis is supposedly going to SUPERCEDE that when he renews his contract at the Rabbits with a reported Million Dollar deal … QUOTE – Money doesn’t maketh the man … And, it doesn’t gaurantee perfection either … One other fact most would not be aware of is that the Melbourne Storm are still paying Greg Inglis’s Storm contract, and will remain doing so for the interim with those payment deducted from the current Storm Salary Cap allocation … And, this of course means the Storm is still being financially affected by what happened 2 years ago … So be it, but it would be really nice if others commenting on here where more informed, before trying to be know it alls …
September 24th 2012 @ 12:32pm
Dayer said | September 24th 2012 @ 12:32pm | Report comment
bbt Well written and explained, i hope those people who still call the stormers cheats should read your comment over and over again to understand that the STORM had no help from the NRL like the AFL clubs in Qld and NSW do.
The AFL management is clearly the pinnacle of sports management with daylight second. The NRLC have sold out the fans to Channell nine for another 5 years and we have to go through the same crap again.
September 24th 2012 @ 12:46pm
planko said | September 24th 2012 @ 12:46pm | Report comment
The NRL never got the funding required because there was a conflict of interest. NRL was 50% owned by…. Foxtel is 25% owned by …. Foxsports is 50% owned by… Melbourne Storm 100% was owned by … AFL did not have this problem..
September 24th 2012 @ 12:46pm
peeeko said | September 24th 2012 @ 12:46pm | Report comment
No they were assisted by news ltd and were losing 6mln a year doing so
September 24th 2012 @ 8:45am
Meesta Cool said | September 24th 2012 @ 8:45am | Report comment
And Luke… sad old story mate, both these Clubs are equally guilty of the same crime, yet, 92% of the article reminding people of Storm’s sins with an afterthought about the Bulldogs.
If you are going to keep on trolling with these historical tales, please state all the facts. or better still, don’t ever write about this crap ever again. Your articles are too good usually to ‘dirty yourself’ with these posts. — MOVE ON MATE!.
September 24th 2012 @ 9:21am
Jimbo said | September 24th 2012 @ 9:21am | Report comment
The Bulldogs aren’t still reaping the fruits of their cheating though, whilst the Storm still retain players like Slater, Cronk, and Smith. I agree that the 2004 Premiership is still tainted as a result, but their rort was nowhere near the scale or impact of the Storm’s breach.
September 24th 2012 @ 9:36am
Meesta Cool said | September 24th 2012 @ 9:36am | Report comment
Hey Jimbo they didn’t go through Bulldogs as intensely as Storm were audited. we will never know how many years they got away with before they were found out. and yup, they should have lost their Premiership..
Apologies to Bulldogs Fans, I am just drawing a comparison. You guys suffered almost as much as we did!. rather than ‘throw stones’ at each other , we should be Brother’s at arms.. lol
j
September 24th 2012 @ 10:14am
Matt F said | September 24th 2012 @ 10:14am | Report comment
I’m a Dogs fan and I’m glad that we got caught when we did. We hadn’t yet won a premiership as a result of our salary cap breaches so they had no titles to strip. It would have hurt so much more if we were caught in 2004 or 2005. Maybe even 2003 given we were almost unbackable fabourites in 2002 before we were caught.
While the punishment hurt at the time, I’ve since come to terms with it and it was completely 100% justified, just like the Storm punishment was.
I’ll get the jokes out of the way and be the first in this thread to pull out the old chestnut that we’ll be playing for the “Salary Cup” this weekend…
September 24th 2012 @ 4:21pm
planko said | September 24th 2012 @ 4:21pm | Report comment
Meesta cool I completely missed you comment …. Are you serious lets compare the 2. One lot sort of supporters admit they made mistake. The storm fans on this go site walk around like their king of the world. Nobody knew anything, the players did know , the coach did not in fact the trooper going around this site is clearly on medication.
September 24th 2012 @ 10:10am
Matt said | September 24th 2012 @ 10:10am | Report comment
And have lost Falou, Inglis etc. Souths jizzed in their pants only getting Inglis. The storm lost a lot of talent, outside of 3 main players the rest are minions like any other club. They aren’t still benefiting from it, if they lost say Cronk they might still have Inglis etc. It’s not unusual for a high paid combo to stay together – Thurston/Bowen, Marshall/Farah etc. At Melbourne they can get paid the same as anywhere else, maybe a bit less, but they’ve got real shots at premierships. Nobody wants to retire with lots of money and no premierships.
September 24th 2012 @ 10:10am
Renegade said | September 24th 2012 @ 10:10am | Report comment
Jimbo,
The storm are not still reaping the benefits…..those 3 players have been there since they were in nappies. They’ve lost the following players – Inglis, Folau, White, Cross, Crocker, King, Finch, Turner, J.Smith, Blair, and more….so how are they reaping the benefits??
The dogs in 04 purchased just about their entire team and got to keep them all…..honestly, just let go mate – enjoy what is going to be an outstanding grand final.
September 24th 2012 @ 11:22pm
JayBob said | September 24th 2012 @ 11:22pm | Report comment
Purchased the entire team? What are you on about? All of the good players we had when we went over the cap came through the lower grades, most of the players getting paid overs were Hughes etc(family). And all of the good players eg. Thurston, Price, Asotasi, Utai, Anasta Mason, Shifty, Maitua etc came through the lower grades. Then we lost them all! Yes, we cheated, and we accept that. But let’s not go telling fibs to make out the Storm were hard done by.
A major reason we won the title in 2004 was because of another new player unearthed that year, that wasn’t even present during the salary cap scandal. SBW, you may have heard of him.
Bulldogs were odds on to win in in 2002, we cheated and were punished accordingly. But we didn’t get to enjoy grand final day, our players don’t have rings, our club didn’t receive any positive exposure for winning a title, they just got the negative exposure associated with cheating.
But the point is, Dogs have accepted their punishment, and so have their fans. Storm players or fans have not. And it does leave a sour taste.
September 25th 2012 @ 12:55pm
Renegade said | September 25th 2012 @ 12:55pm | Report comment
Anasta, Mason?? Lower grades??
Lol you might want to check that…..they’re canterbury juniors about as much as Vagana, Tonga, Ryan, Patten, O’Meley, etc are.
September 25th 2012 @ 11:44pm
JayBob said | September 25th 2012 @ 11:44pm | Report comment
Anasta and Mason both played Jersey Flegg for the Dogs, so yes, lower grades.
Point being that they didn’t buy them as stars, or even first graders.
September 26th 2012 @ 6:50am
The Missile said | September 26th 2012 @ 6:50am | Report comment
Juniors? So Slater, Smith, & Cronk are all from Melbourne?
What about all the players they lost that you mentioned before?
Try none of them
I think he was being nice by saying “lower grades’ before ie. including the Storm in the same case. At least a lot of the Dogs players were actual juniors. But saying that Anasta & Mason weren’t ‘technically’ juniors, when your sticking up for the Storm, really?
September 24th 2012 @ 1:42pm
I'mastormtrooper2 said | September 24th 2012 @ 1:42pm | Report comment
The rule of the salary cap is that the contracts of the playing group must not, or should not succeed the salary cap set down by the ARLC, although it often does, as was shown recently at Manly with Brett Stewarts contract taking their cap in excess of $400,000 and they have been told to rectify that problem before 2013 – I’m sure they will … It has very little to do with what players are contracted under the salary cap , as long as the I’s are dotted and the t’s are crossed … It seems to me that the Melbourne Storm made the right choice … Minor Premiers in 2011 and Grand Finalists and possible Premiers in 2012 … Considering, even with Smith, Slater and Cronk, it was stated that it would take the Melbourne Storm 10 years recover, if they didn’t fall in a heap last year … COURAGE AND CONVICTION is how I see and admire their ability to rise above the ridicule and critisism …
September 24th 2012 @ 3:39pm
Matt F said | September 24th 2012 @ 3:39pm | Report comment
Manly are not currently over the salary cap as Stewarts new contract doesn’t start until next year so that’s not relevant at the moment. If they aren’t able to off-load what they need to in order to fit his contract under then they have an issue but they have time to sort that out.
September 24th 2012 @ 4:09pm
I'mastormtrooper2 said | September 24th 2012 @ 4:09pm | Report comment
I refer you to the rugby league week of friday, september 14, 2012 …
September 24th 2012 @ 4:51pm
Matt F said | September 24th 2012 @ 4:51pm | Report comment
Yes. And? he signed the contract this year but it doesn’t start until 2013. Just like Dane Nielsen has signed with the Warriors for 2013 but his contract for the Warriors doesn’t start until his current one with the Storm expires.
Manly have told the NRL that they will be over the cap next season and the NRL have told them to off-load some players if they want to fit him under the cap, hence why Kite will be moved on. If they can’t do so then Stewart’s contract will not be registered with the NRL. Manly have broken no rules as of yet. Melbourne systematically rorted the system and deliberately lied to the NRL for years. I’m not sure what your point is here?
September 24th 2012 @ 5:25pm
I'mastormtrooper2 said | September 24th 2012 @ 5:25pm | Report comment
take 2 – I refer you to the rugby league week of friday, september 14, 2012 … It clearly stated that Schubert ordered Manly to get their books balanced because Brett Stewarts contract is causing a $400,000 deficit for the club … and, that’s all ok, and a whole lot better approach then what happened in 2010 at Storm headquarters …
Such a shame the NRL could not find a way to accommodate the Melbourne Storm in a similar fashion, which would have made more sense and sensibility then the media mayhem that was created by the reactive and agressive approach and lynchmob tactics, that what in the end, simply boiled down to a salary cap breach of yet another rugby league club and not as it was looked upon as the sporting crime of the century …
So, I’m not demeaning Manly, its coach or its players if their CEO and administrators are experiencing difficulty balancing their salary cap contracts, I’m only suggesting that if that is the procedures and processes for one club, then it should be the same for each and every other club and their players …
I believe the ruling since 2010 is that the rugby league auditor has to review all contracts at every club before those players are permitted to play … Although, it was very odd to hear Beau Ryan state on the Footy Show that neither he nor his Manager signed a contract at the Tigers – a handshake and trust didn’t work apparently and quite bizzare to say the least ??? He has obviously seen the light and signed a contract at Cronulla in 2013 …
and so it goes on and on and on …
September 25th 2012 @ 11:36am
Matt F said | September 25th 2012 @ 11:36am | Report comment
Yes I know the article you refer to. You don’t seem to understand the article. It is repeated in the SMH article here
http://m2.smh.com.au/rugby-league/league-news/sea-eagles-in-hunt-for-new-prop-as-merrygoround-fires-up-20120917-262ot.html
I refer you to this quote “Both Manly and Wests Tigers are rumoured to have salary cap problems, with NRL salary cap auditor Ian Schubert reportedly refusing to register Sea Eagles fullback Brett Stewart’s new contract until the club resolves the problem.”
Key words here are “new contract.” The contract doesn’t start until next year and at the moment isn’t even valid as it is not registered. As it currently stands Manly will be over the salary cap NEXT year if Brett Stewart’s contract is registered, which is why the NRL are refusing to officially register his contract for the moment. So Manly aren’t actually over the salary cap yet as Stewart’s contract isn’t able to be registered. Not only is their no salary cap breach as of yet but it has absolutely nothing to do with melbourne or the Bulldogs (note I am a Dogs fan) deliberate previous rorting of the salary cap.
I can’t believe how far away from the point you actually are…
September 24th 2012 @ 8:50am
JonD said | September 24th 2012 @ 8:50am | Report comment
Most of the players are different. For the players that were around then I think they’ll feel something. But for the club and the fans I think if they win the GF it’ll be some closure for them.
September 24th 2012 @ 9:09am
Matt said | September 24th 2012 @ 9:09am | Report comment
I find it ironic many people are saying “I want the bulldogs to win, the storm are cheats!”. Funny that given the bulldogs happily manipulated the cap and dominated as well, and also got caught out and fined.
Neither is better than the other.
September 24th 2012 @ 9:50am
Nate Hornblower said | September 24th 2012 @ 9:50am | Report comment
Couldn’t agree more. As a Manly fan I probably hate the storm a little less than the aptly named dogs, I’d like to see the storm win & get their names legitimately in the record books
September 24th 2012 @ 10:04am
Matt said | September 24th 2012 @ 10:04am | Report comment
I liked the bulldogs until Hasler went there. They’re 10 times dirtier, slower, and pushing the rules (obstruction anyone?) then previous years.
September 24th 2012 @ 4:17pm
planko said | September 24th 2012 @ 4:17pm | Report comment
Send Des back … LOL
September 24th 2012 @ 10:22am
planko said | September 24th 2012 @ 10:22am | Report comment
Will a Rugby League team make a move on Cooper ???
September 24th 2012 @ 10:31am
steve b said | September 24th 2012 @ 10:31am | Report comment
planko i hope Parra does lol …
September 24th 2012 @ 10:33am
Matt said | September 24th 2012 @ 10:33am | Report comment
Another show pony is what they need, can you imagine a Hayne Sandow Cooper combo. Would be good once every few months when they actually pull it off.
September 24th 2012 @ 10:47am
steve b said | September 24th 2012 @ 10:47am | Report comment
Don’t be so negative Matt ,i reckon it could be a real winner ,anything is worth a go at Parra at the moment ….
September 24th 2012 @ 10:50am
Matt said | September 24th 2012 @ 10:50am | Report comment
Can’t be worse than another wooden spoon I guess
September 24th 2012 @ 12:27pm
planko said | September 24th 2012 @ 12:27pm | Report comment
My bet would be brisbane steve B … If they could get over themselves…
September 24th 2012 @ 12:29pm
Matt said | September 24th 2012 @ 12:29pm | Report comment
The last thing Brisbane needs it cooper. We already have show pony Norman. Passes when he should run, runs when he should pass.
September 24th 2012 @ 12:56pm
I'mastormtrooper2 said | September 24th 2012 @ 12:56pm | Report comment
Cooper Cronk is contracted to the Melbourne Storm unti 2016 … Which will make him 32 … I don’t believe Slater and Smith will leave before then either, infact, I believe they will all finish their playing careers at the Melbourne Storm and possibly beyond in coaching roles … WATCH THIS SPACE, and DON’T HOLD YOUR BREATHE …
September 24th 2012 @ 10:38am
Acorn said | September 24th 2012 @ 10:38am | Report comment
I’m a Storm fan, and the reality is the club cheated, got caught, copped a massive wack, and that’s it. We move on. They have done incredibly well to be competitive every year, and now have a chance for glory again this weekend. The players and Bellyache’s attitudes to losing their premierships is strange to the outsider, but for those guys involved at the time who worked their butt off, made sacrifices, and won matches they will feel that they were robbed. Understandable really
September 24th 2012 @ 12:31pm
planko said | September 24th 2012 @ 12:31pm | Report comment
Acorn if there were more fans like you this would get forgotten alot quicker ! It is constant denial that give people the “sh*ts….
September 24th 2012 @ 10:52am
Alan Nicolea said | September 24th 2012 @ 10:52am | Report comment
The Storm remind me of Juventus. After winning the Serie A, Juventus decided to put three stars in their emblem to represent their 30th Serie A title I believe despite the fact that they had previous Serie A titles stripped for offences committed.
Melbourne are in a similiar ship. I still believe they have three premierships next to their name given that Slater, Cronk, Smith, Folau and Inglis all started their careers at the club. Its not as if Melbourne bought these players when they were already superstars at other clubs. They were built into fine rugby league footballers in Melbourne under Bellamy as far as I am concerned. Indeed I was critical of Melbourne when the story broke but ever since that salary cap scandal, they have become one of my favourite teams in the NRL. Like it or not, for the past six seasons they have delivered everytime and have become the epitome of discipline and professionalism in the NRL. I really enjoying watching them play and I will be barracking for them in the GF.