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The body which governs NRL player agents will seek legal advice over what it labelled “serious allegations” surrounding the activities of mangers involved in the Melbourne Storm salary cap breach.
Investigations into the systematic rort – discovered midway through last year and which resulted in the loss of the club’s two most recent premierships among other penalties – have moved beyond those directly associated with the club.
A committee set up by the Rugby League Accredited Player Agent Scheme to look into the actions of agents has been handed a brief of evidence by the NRL following its investigation.
“I have not seen the brief of evidence at this stage, nor has any member of the committee, however, we have been informed in broad terms of the allegations against a number of player agents which, in my view, are serious,” committee chairman Geoff Bellew SC said in a statement released by the RLAPAS on Friday.
“In these circumstances the committee took the view that, in fairness to all concerned and in order to ensure the integrity of any disciplinary process which might follow, it was appropriate to engage Counsel to consider the material and to advise whether there is sufficient evidence to bring disciplinary proceedings against any player agent.”
It is not known what action would be taken against any manger found acting outside regulations governing player agents, though there is the possibility that those found guilty of breaching the code could be stripped of their accreditation.
The committee expects to have Counsel’s advice by the time it meets again next month.
It was also determined that player agents would be banned from betting on NRL matches, bringing them in line with players and officials.
The issue came to a head with recent investigations into the alleged failed betting sting in last year’s North Queensland-Canterbury NRL fixture.
“We considered a number of aspects of that issue and, in particular, we looked at the practice of other sporting codes overseas,” Bellew said.
“The committee took into account the fact that the NRL rules prohibit players and officials from engaging in betting and concluded that it was appropriate to extend that prohibition to player agents.”
The committee hopes to have the ruling in place before the start of the season on March 11.
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