The situation is untenable.
I understand that the players, as public identities, should be able to leverage that celebrity into off field earnings. None of us would feel happy about being told we couldn't maximise our income.
But the clubs know that the maximum spend is set. The game in its entirety can't afford to have 2 or 3 strong clubs year in year out. It will become boring and predictable.
But the clubs won't keep out of these "non football" streams of income. There's just no way these can be fairly administered unless every single one goes through the governing body. And even then, the Donkeys, Rorters etc will STILL find some way the get around it.
With all the systematic and blatant cheating that goes on, the investigation into Manly is so trivial, it's no wonder everyone here feels we are being victimised. And that farce of a situation with Maloney's KENO money just proved how the NRL just sits on its hands while certain clubs just blatantly flaunt the rules.
And they're surprised the fans are disillusioned ? Give me a break. Delusional idiots.