There's nothing wrong with the Storm

NO ONE CARES WHO YOU ARE TROOPER 2 or anyone around you unless they can tell us what this immoral organization known as NEWS has edited and suppressed out of the audits and reports that were commissioned into this hole disgraceful affair and still YOU SUPPORT AN ORGANIZATION THAT PROFITS FROM THE MURDER OF CHILDREN as NEWS was found of doing in the UK. As said before all League fans want to see the truth the hole truth and nothing but the truth come out as far as this matter goes and all we get is bits of audits and reports into the affair that amount to nothing as THE TRUTH CONTINUES TO BE SUPPRESSED by those who have and possibly still are profiting from it. You say that all those involved in this scam are gone yet you say that both you and I do not know everything about this. Trooper 2 you are getting in the way of the truth, you are defending liars and cheats. IT IS NOT THE STORM THAT WE CARE ABOUT IT IS THE TRUTH AND BRINGING THOSE TO JUSTICE WHO BOUGHT DISCREDIT TO THE GAME. It does not matter who they work for no or what all that matters is they be outed, for example if Steve Kearney were the architect of this cheating (which he most certainly was not) the he should never be allowed near the game again and that goes for anyone involved. It is still unclear what exactly transpired and League fans, storm fans and players all have a right to know who was behind committing such a terrible act upon our game. You may not care about the truth of this matter Trooper 2, you may not want to see those who perpetrated these acts run out of the game forever but I do. I do not want them near our children and our most talented players athelete's and coach's. I do not want their immoral virtue's anywhere near our game but clearly that is not important to someone like you Trooper 2. I don't care who you are Trooper 2 but WE ALL KNOW THAT YOU SUPPORT AN ORGANIZATION WHO PROFIT FROM THE MURDER OF CHILDREN and you don't care what they do to our great game you just support them. Trooper2 you have no love for Rugby League and it's future, you must hate it.

Roosterman - whatever do you mean - SUCKED IN ??? NOT LIKELY !!! I worked in the Newspaper Industry for many years and during a time and place where some of this countries most notorious criminal cases where investigated in the 80's, and reported and put to print by some of Queensland's best Ediitors, Sub-Editors and Journalists - some still do ... As someone else commented on here about reading between the lines, especially when words can and do get misconscrude, when infact the comment is more about tongue in cheek when sarcasim is the only choice of phrase when one is frustrated to the core, when they show support for their team or players who are under attack ... Anyone who reads my posts about the Melbourne Storm, and, I hope this will at least clarify with you where my loyalties lie - I HAVE ALWAYS AND STILL DO SUPPORT THE COACH AND PLAYERS - I'M NO FAN AND NEVER WAS OF DAVID GALLOP ... I admit I don't know everything about what occurred or why it occurred or who knew or who didn't - NEITHER DO YOU OR ANYONE ELSE - AND I don't give a fig what anyone else thinks about my comments, opinions or how I derive truth from lies ... But, I do realize that others might not see the world through my eyes, because I don't see the world through theirs ... GO THE MIGHTY STORM - GO CAM, CRONK AND BILLY !!!

81Paling - AND, you know me well, DO YOU ??? I've been following rugby league for over 50 years ... My father who was our "local referee", and as a toddler there was no way he was going to leave me behind ... I lived in Mount Isa for 26 years, where rugby league ran rife and if you'd bother to check you will find some very successful players, league personal and sportsmen where born or raised in what is one of this countries greatest sporting cities ... THE MIGHTY MINERS are legenday - for which as a youngster where television didn't exist, let alone be a right, and "OUR" LEAGUE HEROES AND FRIENDS, now can claim their fame as the fathers and uncles of some of NRL's best league players - And, I can assure you 81Paling their sons are well aware of where they acquired their talents ... What league players from all over Queensland wouldn't do to venture north each year just for a chance to compete in Qld's toughest league competitions - The Foley Shield - (Google fullbottle.com/foleyshield/players.htm) - you may recognize some very familiar and famous rugby league names ... I have since then resided since the mid 80's in yet another rugby league matropolus in NQ where names such as JACKSON, BELLA, SAILOR, SHEARER, CAMPION, SAILOR AND BARBA are just a few other successes in league ... Oh, and more personally, my husband was a pretty handy footballer too, playing alongside those NQ, Qld, National and International players for many years, and we remain friends with them and there families ... Just to top it all, my husbands father represented Queensland in 1960's, in an era when real men played league ... NEED I SAY ANY MORE ???

Trooper2 the best lies are half truth and when I read and re read your post I fear you've been sucked in by people who had far more to gain from destroying our game then from making it great. I support 81paling's search for the truth and in the mean time hope and I guess "pray" (as you say) that fans like you and I and great players like the big 3 shall never fall victim to the manipulation by News and those like them again.

Trooper2 you must hate rugby league but I love it and this actions by the storm were shameful and bought the game into disrepute. Gallop knew the storm were guilty and handed the matter to the Victorian police whom simply stated that they "were not going pursue the matter because it would consume to many resources" as legally binding statement were signed outside their jurisdiction and therefore the amount of resources that would have to be pored into the investigation would not be worth their while. Put simply this meant that no one had been found innocent of any charge that in fact there was something here to investigate as Gallop (a lawyer had correctly presumed) but it was going to take up to many resources to bring these charges to court. The reality is that the Storm is part of an organization THAT PROFITS FROM THE MURDER OF CHILDREN. They are part of a company that a judge officially stated was void of any moral value and you Trooper2 seem to be one person who would support such an organization and its actions. I am glad to see that no one else has supported you in your aggressive campaign here to try and vindicate those who conspired to create that dark moment in rugby League history. The reality here is that most of us want to see Melbourne survive long after NEWS and it's long dark shadow of manipulation cover up scandal and corruption have left all the game and more importantly it's area's of administration within the game. However what is most important, no matter what you say Trooper2 is that we find out the truth. This is not an issue that involves the players or staff that surround them, if the salary cap is $4.2m and Bellamy asks to sign a player like Crocker knowing he will only sign for $4.1m and all of a sudden Crocker appears on the playing roster it is not Bellamy's role to say something it is his job to make sure they win on the field. On the same point if Crocker signs for that $4.1m it is his job to win on the field. Players and coaching staff have nothing to do with this disgrace so don't bring them into it. All League fans want IS TO KNOW THE TRUTH ENOUGH OR DOCUMENTS AND AUDITS WITH THE MAJORITY OF THEIR CONTENT MISSING FROM PUBLIC EYES. Once we know the facts then we can stop it from happening again but, until then we have to presume the Storm guilty and Trooper2 you are in support of this dishonesty, you should be ashamed of your actions even though you claim to be a supporter of Rugby League and the Storm you are a detractor of the game and the game does not need people like you who do not respect the truth, who do not want to see justice served and who don't have any respect for a fair go for all. Once again no matter what you say I want to see the truth of this matter bough to light and not suppressed so that we can all move on in a fairer competition but not just that more importantly in a better world where our children know that rules must be followed and not cheated like the storm did to the salary cap. Surely not even Trooper 2 could disagree with that.

Well 81Paling, pardon me, but I beg to differ, and, so would the NRL's David Gallop, News Limited's John Hartigan, the media and the public - NO SINGLE PERSON NOR SPORTING BODY IS ABOVE THE LAW - FRAUD IS A CRIMINAL OFFENCE - FULL STOP !!! AND, the extent of the accusations, by those supposedly in the know, unlike you and or I, where and still are, mostly against Melbourne Storm's CEO at the time, Brian Waldron, as well as his administrators, directors, coaches, managers and players, and was not apparently just about some small petty cash issue. It was infact the most prolifant crime in Australian sports history and the second most prolifant crime in World sport ... After the NRL handed down their penalties to the Storm, David Gallop announced that he was handing the Deloitte report over to the Victorian Police to investigate the allegations and without a shadow of a doubt, he being a lawyer, believed charges would be handed down to everyone involved ... NOT SO, the Victorian Police after months of investigation, could not find enough evidence to convict a single soul ... NOT SATISFIED WITH THAT OUTCOME, AND DEFIANT TO THE CORE, David Gallop, obviously a man of conviction, who honestly believed he could not get it so wrong, decided that the only right thing to do was to hand the Deloitte report to the ATO, who announced that not only would they be investigating every rugby league club and their employees, but would widen their investigations to every football code ... At this point in time, no significant findings have been reported by the media - And, surely anything disconcerting about those involved with the Melbourne Storm would make headlines ... It is now, just over two years since all hell broke loose, in what was not only the world's worst crime in sports history, but a scandal that could have bought "OUR GAME" to it's knees, and thankfully for Storm fans, like me, it certainly hasn't had that "DESIRED AFFECT", on the Melbourne Storm, AND nothing has become of " de munk, de munk" - STRANGER THEN FICTION one would seem ??? It has effectively "DIED IN THE WATER" ??? My issues is WHY IT HAPPENED IN THE FIRST PLACE, THE WAY IT DID, more importantly, HOW CAN THAT POSSIBLY BE THE OUTCOME - DOESN'T SEEM FAIR ??? Especially now that all the so called "INSTIGATORS AND "DO GOODERS" have ridden off into oblivion, establishing life elsewhere and willing and able to establish high flying administrative positions somewhere in the corporate world ... Whilst the coaches and players have not only "WEATHERED THE STORM", but have been allowed to continue their careers and even represent their states and country, without anyone flinching - FUNNY THAT !!! That SUCH A CRIME, of this significance and shame, would not have had those players removed from club and banned from participating in rugby league, OR any other sport ... And then there's David Gallop, the NRL's beloved CEO -"THE DICTATOR" of sorts, in what was but another long-winded NRL criminal saga ??? WELL, not long after the New Commission was formed, he was released from this duties - Apparently, THEY believed him to be "FAR TOO REACTIVE" !!! (read into that what you may) ... I sincerely hope you're so perfect that you feel you can live in judgement of others, because NOTHING like that would happen to YOU !!! And, pray if that ever comes to pass, that you have the love and support of those who give a fig about you, especially when others put your guilt before your right of innocence ...

No criminal charges could ever be laid for breaking the salary cap because it is a rule passed by the NRL not an act of government to be ruled on by the courts and the reason for keeping 2 sets of accounts is so that every legal obligation is fulfilled and documented so that if this scam ever got out no one involved would ever be legally charged. Legal charges could never be laid for breaking the salary cap, ever and as long as everyone paid their taxes everything could be suppressed by NEWS like the 44 page audit that NEWS commissioned for the ATO that was supposed to clear them but when published 33 pages were suppressed by the owners of the Storm from the general public so that the truth of this matter would not be disclosed to the general public. The unedited copy of that audit is for the eyes of Deloitte's, NEWS and the ATO and they alone know what is in it. So to mention criminal charges when they are not relevant is simply misleading and irrelevant. The only reason to do this would be to deliberately misguide people unless the person who made them was totally ignorant of the fact of the issue and devoid of any reason. From the above comments made and despite other irrational statements made I actually believe the former to be the case.

T.A.M.U. - Honestly mate you are entitled to think what you like, as am I ... But one things for sure, I don't know of any NRL player, who if guilty, wouldn't have made a mad dash for the first available door and sought to find something else - another club or perhaps another sport ... As far as Smith, Slater and Cronk go, they would have had the opportunity to make a big financial gain from contracts in rugby league, union or the AFL ... You and others are not asked or expected to understand why their choice of footy would rather be RUGBY LEAGUE, and why their choice of club is THE STORM ... Don't you not think it would be a safer option to run and hide, as most guilty people do ??? I KNOW I WOULD... Instead, as the team leaders they stood by their convictions and trusted each other impeccably, but have copped the full brunt of the most degrading and disgraceful back lash from league fans from what was the large majority of NRL clubs - AND, it's gone on far beyond a joke ... Thankfully for small mercies, the team did receive support from their Directors, coach, fans and most sponsors and from the majority of their peers, the Queensland and Australian selectors and coaches, and have somehow found a way forward to not only reap rewards, but be successful, and, are still regarded as the best of the best in league ??? A Minor Premiership in 2011 after recieving the biggest kick in the guts and here they are nearing the end of season 2012, and, regardless of the hurdles, sitting in the top 4 on the NRL ladder ... What most players and clubs would give their eye-teeth for ... As I said, the ATO have acces to the forensic report from Deloitte, and to date, no charges or penalties against any rugby league player has been forthcoming, and the ATO are infact investigating every rugby league player from all clubs ... FAITH, SELF-BELIEF, PURPLE PRIDE, whatever it is that people like you prefer to dispise, it will infact be their talents, careers, immortals, whatever - worts and all, that in the long run will be part of their legend in the NRl ...

So why did the the players sign two contracts and accept all the shady payments and gifts in-lue of cash. How can anyone believe that the players didn't know what was going on!! Rorters and Cheats, who dudded every NRL fan out of a fair comp for their team for years. The sooner there's no Melb Storm the better, the only reason they've survived is due to News bankrolling their loses year after year, but for how long is uncle Rupert going to keep footing the bill?

Yeah well said. I totally agree with your assessment. Form is temporary, but class is permanent. It is all confidence.

*gasp* theres been a terrible mistake!

I personally hope they do not get there mojo back & that way some other team can have a go at getting to the finals & winning the GF - Go the Bunnies !! (MG - where are you?)

Sean, let me get "real" with you ...Firstly, NO single player has had a criminal charge or a financial penalty held against them from the NRL salary cap investigation - In fact, not one single administrator including Waldron (the prime suspect), or, the Storm Directors had, has have or will have a criminal charge or financial penalty held against them, and, no one will need to appear before a court, especially on your or anyone elses presumptions or opinions ... LOT'S OF INUENDO, but as it appears, nothing more than A STORM IN A TEACUP !!! The NRL handed the forensic investigation about their suspicions to Deloitte, one of the most prestigious acountancy companies in Australia, and when that had concluded they handed their "findings" onto the Victorian Police, who in turn, determined that there was not sufficient evidence to charge any particular individual, player, coach, director or administrator ... The NRL have since then handed the Deloitte report onto the Australian Taxation Office, for which not one notable report or instance of fraud has been bought to the notice of the media or the public - NOT UNLESS I'VE MISSED SOMETHING YOU HAVEN'T ... What I haven't missed is that 99.9% of the players involved are still playing for an NRL team, albiet not for the Melbourne Storm, BUT, every NRL and NEWS LIMITED executive who where instrumental in removing the Melbourne Storm's Minor Premeirships and Premierships since 2007, which admittedly broke the hearts of the Storm players, coaches and fans, are no longer associated with the NRL ... But, one things for sure, they didn't break our spirit ... The results speak for themselves - If the Storm where allowed to earn points in 2010, they would have made the top 8 and possibly the Premiership - The Storm are the Minor Premiers of 2011 and the Storm are currrently sitting 2nd on the 2012 ladder ... If that ain't success, if that isn't AMAZING, nothing is, because David Gallop predicted that the Storm would remain in the NRL wilderness for at least 10 YEARS ... The fact of this matter, and any legal matter, is, that in Australia the law clearly states that the presumption of innocence is the right of every single citizem in our country ... That includes you and I, and for that small mercy I'm grateful ... I really don't give FIG about you personally!!!

Let's get real here, the problem isn't Origin because they've had Slater and Smith in the Qld team for years. The problem is they are no longer rorting the cap and able to afford the big three plus a decent foward pack and good 3/4s. It's not so easy being so dominant when they have to play to the rules.

Not sure about your stategy "Pot Stirrer" ... "Bellyache" has been abusing and accusing the player group for their current demise and very unlike Craig, in a very public way, especially after last week's game against the Eel's and he did have plenty to squeel about ... Notice he's back to his more reserved self after last night 8 point loss the the Dragons ... Although I sent a disgruntled email to Storm headquarters last week about my disappointment of Bellamy airing the players dirty linen in public, I'm sure it has very little to do with the why's and wherefores or ploys used in Craig Bellamy's post game stategies last night - All coaches do use the media as an attempt to lead the pack astray ... What you're insinuating is also very unCraig like ... Bellamy's contract goes through to the end of 2013 as you say, Cameron Smith's contract to the end of 2013, Billy Slater's to the end of 2015 , and Cronk's to the end of 2016, after signing a 4 year contract this year ... It has been said that the one of the reasons Cronk accepted the Storm's contract, because he was offered more at other clubs, had a lot to do with his duscussions with Craig Bellamy, who obviously has a very tight relationship with Cronk, Slater and Smith, and all have indicated they wish to be one club footballers ... That mentality doesn't surprise me as far as Slater goes ... But, of course everyone has the right to change their mind ... Maybe the disfunction has to do with the NEWS LIMITED ownership arrangement, they sold off their percentage of their NRL deal this year - money speaks volumes in the football business ... Also, Smith, Slater and Cronk who are three of the best players in the game, certainly aren't the highest paid in the game, but they are, and deservedly so, are the highest paid at the Storm and surprisingly Slater is not the top wage earner, as many might think - The other players might think they are more worthy of a bigger bite of the cherry ... I think most would also be surprised at just how much Craig Bellamy is paid for a coach of his callibre - He too took less money for what he thought would be more opportunity and has had to put up with more crap from not only the salary cap issue, but the football fraternity and the public then any other coach - Yet he didn't shirk his duties when he stood beside his players through a situation that many coaches would have shafted them for ... I don't know Craig Bellam, Cameron Smith, Billy Slater or Cooper Cronk, but their professionalism, nous, courage, talent and deamenour are second to none of any sportsmen in the world ... They certainly are a significant part of why I'm proud to be part of the "purple army." I trust they will never let their club by walking away without good reason ...

thanks for sharing

Creepy, whatever do you mean Scott ??? You surely don't know me ??? I promise I'm very professional and for me it would strictly be about treating their ankles, knees, arms, shoulders ... Their wives would instantly know their anatomy would be as safe as houses in this old girls care - as my hubby falls to the floor laughing !!! He knows that my feelings for those Storm boys is purely platonic - I've followed the Storm for 15 years ... Have followed league since I was young, just like Billy's mum Judy and we both weren't bad softballers, continueing to do so even as young mothers - unfortunately Jude is still a couple of years shy of my age ... Gee, my hubby just presented me with an afternoon delight !!! A cherry ripe ... See he's off to the local footy where he is manager of our local A grade team ... Sport can be fun too Scott !!! Haa, hee !!! Have a nice day mate !!! GO THE MIGHTY STORM !!!

Well, there is something wrong with the Storm - they dont lose 5 in a row just from badluck. Prior to last night I would have said it was the absence of Slater, but even the (not so) mighty red V managed to dish up another 2hrs of pain for the Storm. Maybe theyre just down on confidence? They'll bounce back, they always do, but not this year. They'll be around in the finals, but definitely not the GF. There's too much quality in the bottom half of the top eight to be able to limp through on the back of a top 4 finish. Maybe they arent paying their players enough? hehe

There is some gossip that bellamy has agreed to coach elsewhere in 2014 and the team he is going to is keen to get him sooner, Just a rumour but it may be relavant to the storms current situation. Just like As some one said above the Dragons were going well last year untill it was announced where Bennet was actually going.

thats just creepy