Quote chico's nose="chico's nose"Because the strom were running two accounting files, one official and one top secret. This suggests that the players would not have been getting 1 pay check a month, but two.
The amount that the storm have been breaching the cap by, I would find it very difficult to believe that the players didn't realise what was happening, so were effectivly happy to take dodgy payments. This is obviously only my opinion, but if that were the case then they players are equally at fault. They in charge of getting the team under the salary cap, but they are expected to play by the rules.
If a player is knowingly taking back handers which is in breach of the slary cap then they should also be punished accordingly imo.'"
I think that's a bit of a harsh way to view the players, TBF. As far as they may be concerned, it's up to the club to stick to the cap and why should they believe they aren't? Also a couple of other points:
- the players over there are often on incremental contracts, so they would have little idea of the wage bill at any given time;
- they also see teammates leave, and are told it's for cap reasons (why should they then question their club's application of the cap? I also seem to remember, didn't Crocker offer to take a pay cut so that they could keep Newton?).
I actually feel sorry for the players. No matter what's gone on off the field, there's no questioning the work they've put in on it, and they've just had their main rewards for that work taken away from them.
If the operation undertaken was so elaborate that it's taken several years for it to come out, why would you expect your average rugby league player to have given it a second thought, never mind figured it out? All they'll be bothered about is playing the game and being paid, the fine details are for others to worry about. Be honest, if you were fortunate enough to be playing pro, earning a good wage, and winning, would you concern yourself with whether the admin was being done properly? I doubt I would.
