Thursday April 22, 2010 will now forever be remembered as the day Australia's biggest sporting scandal was uncovered, for five years, including two premierships and three minor premierships, the Melbourne Storm had been systematically rorting the salary cap.
The NRL's most powerful and successful club on the field over the past decade has been brought to it's knees after the penalties handed out by the NRL against the club for the systematic rorting of the National Rugby League's salary cap. David Gallop and the NRL commission has pulled no punches in the penalties handed out to the Storm. They have been stripped of 3 minor premierships, 2 premierships, fined $500,000 and ordered to payback $1.1 million dollars in prize money. In addition to this, Craig Bellamy's side has been stripped of all 8 premiership points earned in season 2010 and will not be able to accrue any further points for the remainder of the
season.
The punishment, whilst necessary, threatens the very existence of the Storm in Melbourne. This is a club which has done remarkably well in recent times to fit into the an AFL dominated sporting landscape where rugby league was once on the periphery. If the Storm where to fold, the NRL would be virtually back to square one in regards to their own expansion hopes. A two state competition is hardly a 'National' Rugby League.
The current Storm hierarchy, well those who survive the pending investigation into their salary cap breach where two sets of books were held face an enormous task to build this club back up from the ground.
Effectively, the rest of the 2010 season is a write off for Melbourne. Their players have nothing to play for, their fans have nothing to cheer for. No premiership points can be gained, none lost. As to how many supporters who have invested plenty of their time as well as hard earned cash show up remains to be seen.
In my opinion, it is the apparent 'innocent' parties in this train-wreck who can restore the Melbourne Storm to it's former glory. These are the fans and the players.
The nucleus of players upon which Melbourne's now tainted dynasty was built hold the keys to the franchise's success. Greg Inglis, Billy Slater, Cameron Smith and Cooper Cronk are no longer dual premiership players, nor is Craig Bellamy a dual premiership coach. If the likes of Slater, Inglis, Smith and Cronk move on to other clubs or even overseas the Melbourne Storm is as good as dead. However, if this quartet decides to stay together for the good of the club and it's supporters they have the potential to save the club. Now, obviously they would have to take a pay-cut, but this would give them the opportunity to put their names into the record books officially as Melbourne Storm premiership players.
If the current batch of players stick by the club so will the majority of the fans - chances are if this happens, they may well survive.
Interesting days indeed.
Friday, April 23, 2010
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