After another ordinary start, Souths mounted a great comeback in the second half to with the second half 20-0 and the match. Once we cut out the dropped balls and silly penalties we domminiated the Raiders, once again with our forwards leading the way.
What a crazy week this has been for the NRL. Melbourne we caught red handed at cheating the Salary Cap by arranging what is best described as two player contracts and two set of books. One that is shown to the NRL and one that is shown to News Ltd. While most players you will find are innocent, there are a number of high profile players who knew, Melbourne management who knew and I am cannot see how News Ltd feel they did not know about financial processes in progress. This Salary Cap breach was expected after so many years of Melbourne breaching the Salary Cap in the past.
2007 and 2009 Premierships - unprecedented in Rugby League are the ultimate price that Melbourne Storm have to pay. No one denies that the 2009 premiership should hav ebeen taken away. There is some doubt about the 2007 season as the beach was not as significant back then. The return of the $1.1 mil prize money is a non event as News Ltd will foot the bill. The loss of the 3 Minor Premierships again warranted, where the second placed team should be award the titles. 2007 and 2009 Premierships are going to be difficult to hand over as the only way you could do it is to award joint Premiership in 2009 to Parramatta/Brisbane the final two teams to loose to Melbourne.
In 2010 Melbourne have breached the Salary Cap by $700K with a $500K fine and been stripped of ALL points this year, effectively making them Wooden Spooners this year. But have been allowed to keep playing with their illegal roster. I am concerned like many fans over this. One the penalty is inconsitant. The Storm are not being asked to address their playing Roster in 2010 pre June 30. As at the end of the Warriors game there is nothing to lose so team who play the Storm get frustrated and the game degenerates, with the team having the potential to lose players to injury suspension. A better penalty would been to address the squad back to $4.1 mil, reduce the points by 1pt for every $25K breach ie 28pts and let them play their way out of the hole. With a $1.4 mil Salary Cap reduction in 2011. With any player who is receiving outside payments to be deregistered by the NRL.