Former Manly supremo Bob Fulton says he’s offended by ARL Commission chairman Peter Beattie’s comments about his alleged role in their salary cap cheating scandal.
Beattie on Tuesday jumped to the defence of NRL boss Todd Greenberg, who came under criticism from Fulton for failing interview him during the nine-month investigation into the rort.
“I’ve been a Bob Fulton fan my whole life,” Beattie said on Tuesday.
“But no one is above the game. What Todd has done, what the integrity unit has done, is the right thing by the future of the game.”
Fulton fired back later on Tuesday by providing a statement to the Nine Network.
“In my 52 years in the game I have never put myself above the game. I find Peter’s comments uneducated and offensive to say the least,” Fulton said.
Earlier on Tuesday, Greenberg promised to reach out to Fulton to explain why he accused the Sea Eagles legend of being a key figure in their salary cap cheating.
The governing body on Monday handed down a $750,000 fine to the Sea Eagles, and wiped out a combined $660,000 from their salary cap over the next two years for alleged extra payments to players.
Sea Eagles chief operating officer Neil Bare and former chief executive Joe Kelly also had their registrations suspended for 12 months.
Fulton, who was head of football of the club for almost two years, escaped sanction after making the surprise decision to end a 50-year association with the club in October.
It is widely believed Fulton was crucial in helping captain Daly Cherry-Evans backflip on a deal with Gold Coast in 2015 to remain at the Sea Eagles on a more lucrative, eight-year contract.
Cherry-Evans’ deal is reported as one that came under the scrutiny of the NRL investigation, with suggestions only part of his value had been registered with the NRL.
“Bob worked at that club for a period of time. He was the football manager and did a lot of retention and recruitment during that period of time,” Greenberg said.
He denied the investigation needed to have spoken to Fulton.
“Bob is an immortal, first and foremost. He has enormous standing in the game. I read some of his comments and spoke briefly to him yesterday,” Greenberg said.
“I’ll have a discussion with him today and I’d like to leave that discussion between Bob and I.”
Matt
Guest
Surpluses built on wages and superannuation stolen from Indigenous people....
JJJ
Guest
Only for the past 55 years which includes all of Joh's budget surpluses.
madmax
Guest
Fulton was at Manly for the 2016/2017 season & not the previous 3 years!! So how can he be responsible for the full 5 years?
madmax
Guest
Yes if your read the papers you would know that Fulton's signatures are NOT on any paper work!!
William Dalton Davis
Roar Rookie
I’ll be the first to admit I haven’t really read into the situation at all, and I’d probably be the least knowledgeable person on this subject, but the fact is Bozo was the chief negotiator for Manly. He was paraded as the key figure in both DCEs backflip monster deal, and Dylan Walkers recruitment. His name is all over it. now I’m not saying he’s guilty because I don’t know and tbh don’t really care, but from the outside looking in he’s either a key piece in the systematic rorting of the salary cap, or the most incompetent person in the game today, and Bozo has never struck me as incompetent.
no one in particular
Roar Guru
Wow, Fultons mates in the media (and the station he works for no less) are sticking up for him. No one saw that coming. So tell us, for those of us that haven't bothered to listen to talkback radio or read the Telegraph (heaven forbid), did they tell us why Fultons signature was on every dodgy contract? Is it because he was complicit or because he was incompetent?
E-Meter
Guest
Wonder if Old Boze knows Andrew Gee.
Forty Twenty
Guest
He's a fan of Margret Fulton.
Lovey
Guest
Fulton is being precious, Beattie didn’t say that Fulton thought he was above the game. The remark was inoffensive.
madmax
Guest
If you want clear proof then read what's been happening behind the scenes before posting! The last time the NRL contacted Fulton was on 6 December..........almost 4 months ago. Why haven't they contacted him since? If you bothered to listen to the radios & read the papers lately you would have read that Fulton DID actually want a face to face interview but the NRL dismissed his request. Also you would have read that Paul Kent, Ray Hadley, Alan Jones & Ken Arthurson are backing Fulton.......heaven help Greenberg & Weekes now that they have opened a hornets nest!!!
Malo
Guest
What’s nrl ?
John
Guest
So the always believable Pete has been a Futon fan all his life? Yeah - back when Bob played for the Cronulla Hawks
kk
Guest
Hard Yard's post under Fulton's future clouded banner 27/03/2018 is a great read.
Paul C
Guest
JJJ, Attacking the messenger not the message is pretty low. Did you live in Qld. when Joh Bjelke-Petersen was in power? Please, this site is about Rugby League not politics don't go there. Give Beattie time to settle into the job. At least Beattie is not a member of the usual Sydney Mafia trying to run the game.
Oingo Boingo
Guest
"On the teat Pete " , I like it , but I tend to think the NRL will be on its knees by the time he's done with it.
Hughster
Guest
Fulton's status as an immortal is irrelevant. He is as accountable as anyone else.
Paul
Roar Guru
It would make sense for Bozo to shut up at least until he's heard what Greenburg has to say. Once that's past, then he can have a whinge about Beattie if he still thinks that's justified.
JJJ
Guest
Now you are getting a taste of the incompetence of "On-The-Teat Pete" that Queenslanders are still suffering from.
Forty Twenty
Guest
I'm happy for him to speak and explain himself, he feels hard done by and would be a bit thick to emerge now without substance. He was pretty vocal as a coach but has been pretty quiet for years on most topics.
BA Sports
Roar Guru
Bob needs to be quiet. Yes Beattie doesn't know what he is talking about, Yes Greenberg has failed epically and has made some decisions this week that are beyond comprehensible. but... There appears to be clear proof that the NRL reached out to him and he hasn't responded. So given how deeply involved he has been in that club over the years and the surprise around his departure last year, he needs to be quiet - for once.