An investigation was carried out and no charges were filed. There was no admission and Omar is stating this is because during the investigation Thewliss and Koppy denied to the RFL they approached Koppy before the deadline and have now stated on oath that in fact not only did they approach him, but they agreed a deal on August 8th.

What happened to the CE at Hull who lied in the doping scandal?

He got a job as CE at Widnes after a short break spending time with his family.

[sizeDoes anyone know if the £16kK awarded to Mason counts against the Shuddersfields cap?

That would be [iunfortunate[/i, if it did . . . .[/size

EDIT : DOH! Sorry - just read staffbull1973 similar post . . . . anyone know the answer?

Huddersfield board are claiming that the amount does count, but is split over the period remaining on the contract. Either way, it could have been a couple of new players for them... Shame

I would expect the RFL to be a little "concerned" that both Huddersfield and Kopout lied to them previously, doesn't show them in a particularly good light.

Ta daveyz999 . . . . my heart bleeds for the Shudders

re the latter bit, it'll be interesting to see how that is handled - apart from as quietly as possible and with a minimal impact on those concerned . . . . I sadly suspect . . . .

From todays Hudds Examiner

"Ken Davy last night insisted the club had fought the Keith Mason case “[ito uphold standards[/i”/"It is a sad reflection on today’s society that this was the outcome""

Oh, the irony

The one thing that stand out for me in all this is...

£95,000 a year for Mason!

So imagine what they must be paying their good players. And all under the cap. It's baffling.

Seemed to remember Sheffield had to go under to save you!!! Glass houses and bricks come to mind.
Anyway this is not about the fans causing this it`s about poor management as was with us.

Mason should have had £20k deducted from his award for that small tie knot / large collar combination

I don't see any valid reason why the whole amount of payment for services to Kopout shouldn't count against their salary cap.

In the T&A OK is quoted as saying“We feel vindicated in our stance at the time that Kopczak had illegally spoken to Huddersfield well before we took over the club on September 1.

“Both Kopczak and Giants’ managing director Richard Thewlis have admitted under oath that they agreed a contract on August 8, despite Kopczak’s contract with the Bulls still having 16 months left to run.

“We are also concerned that in October of last year both Kopczak and Thewlis denied this to RFL investigator John Dearden, and indeed Kopczak stated that he was not at that time employed by anyone.

“We trust the RFL will now further investigate this matter, which has seen us deprived of a player who was under contract to us when illegally approached.”
'"

Credit where it's due, over on the Giants board they're being pretty even handed about it.

If the RFL don't take some action after this admission they would in effect be saying that it is OK to lie to them. Time for the RFL to show what they are made of, I wonder if they will disappoint us once again?

Yep. They've been lied to as much as anyone else and we know how that feels.

That said to tap up a player is one thing - I bet it's a lot more common than you think - but to lie to an RFL investigation. If they did that the club and player in question should be hauled over the coals for it.

Current costs as reported...


Kopczak Salary: GBP 60 000
Fielden Salary: GBP 55 000
Hush money to Bulls: GBP 20 000
Loss of Earnings to Mason: GBP 167 000
Court costs: GBP 35 000
Legal Fees (possible according to the papers): GBP 200 000

Total to date (damages to Mason not yet decided upon): GBP 537 000

If I've got that right (?) that must be the most expensive prop pairing in the league.