Murdoch says other clubs probably cheating cap

The finger pointing sparked by Melbourne’s salary cap scandal has gone all the way to the top with News Corporation boss Rupert Murdoch casting doubt over whether the Storm were the only NRL side not playing by the rules.

Speaking during a press conference to announce the company’s profit results, Murdoch admitted News Corporation and its Australian arm News Limited – which owns the Storm and half the NRL – had been embarrassed by the incident.

The Storm were stripped of two premierships and have been forced to play out the 2010 season for no competition points as punishment for salary cap breaches totalling $1.7 million over five years.

But Murdoch said he had suspicions over the financial practices of other NRL clubs.

“We’re far from sure that we’re the only club involved,” said Murdoch, who sought to distance News from any of the blame for the Storm’s systematic cheating.

“We didn’t enjoy it, it was very embarrassing but it certainly was not us.

“We were shocked.”

The NRL refused to buy into Murdoch’s comments, which is hardly surprising considering News Limited holding a 50 per cent stake in the competition.

Canterbury chief executive Todd Greenberg admitted the aspersions generated by Murdoch’s comments were “a worry.”

“There will always be people, no matter what industry they’re in, who will look to take short cuts or break the rules,” Greenberg told AAP.

“What we’ve got to do is make sure the penalties are harsh if you’re going to try and break the rules.

“I think David’s (NRL chief executive David Gallop) shown his hand here – if you’re prepared to play by the rules that’s fine, if you’re not, you may not get caught initially but some big risks down the track.”

Murdoch’s claims came on the back of explosive evidence from former South Sydney coach Jason Taylor that a Rabbitohs official had raised the prospect of the club going outside the boundaries of the salary cap.

Taylor, who coached the Bunnies from 2007 before being sensationally sacked in 2009, said nothing came of the discussions, but admitted on the SBS’s Insight program they were talks that happened at other NRL clubs as well.

“If anyone thinks that Souths would be the only club where there would be a comment made in a meeting like that, well then they’re wrong,” Taylor said.

“Nothing went on from that point but other clubs are having those conversations.”

Describing Taylor’s comments as “surprising”, Greenberg said no such discussions had ever been held during his tenure at the Bulldogs.

“The only time we discuss payments outside the salary cap are when it’s in relation to third party agreements or possible marquee players agreements,” Greenberg said.

“We understand the rules of the cap, we understand the importance of the cap and we continue to adhere to it.”