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Shock is the only word to describe the downfall of the Melbourne Storm, especially given the fact that they have received so many plaudits from neutral supporters for their achievements and it had seemed they had done so much to stay under the salary cap. It now leaves the NRL with four major challenges.
1. A complete overhaul of the salary cap and how it’s policed
It’s become apparent through both the Storm and the Bulldogs scandals that Ian Schubert, the man tasked with policy, can only find breaches when they’re handed to him on a platter.
It would seem forensic accounting is yet to hit the NRL. But just how a side like Melbourne had to go so far over the cap, shows it needs to be reworked. The NRL’s inability to find breaches on their own raises doubts about other clubs’ salary cap status.
2. The overall integrity of the competition is in question
Someone, somewhere, is signing off cheques which are clearly more than what should be for legal salary payments. Who in News Ltd knew about this breach and how will the NRL deal with this problem?
How much did former Melbourne Storm chief and current Melbourne Rebel’s head, Brian Waldron, know. as this occurred on his watch?
3. It’s correct that the NRL have not backdated titles to give premierships to Manly or Parramatta because you must factor in sides that the Storm beat to reach the Grand Final. For instance, Brisbane beaten in the final minute by Storm in 2007, would have a case as to why they aren’t awarded the title.
4. But I disagree with the NRL’s decision to strip the Storm’s points in 2010. In the English football system, the club is provided with a concrete penalty and they play from this point. Clubs have been known to start from a negative value, but at least their games have some relevance.
Going forward, there must be some relevance to Melbourne playing each week. This decision completely dilutes any match the Storm play this year. This is not what the competition is about.
It overly punishes the players, too, all of whom would have signed a contract in good faith.
In terms of the future, three questions remain:
1. The future of the club
2. How quickly is the club expected to get their side under the cap
3. What are the legal ramifications, given the signed contracts with the players
The first point is the most salient.
I don’t think anyone will argue that there now remains serious short term challenges, but long term, there remains a need for a Melbourne team in the NRL.
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