Smith had three contracts
NRL salary cap investigators have discovered champion hooker Cameron Smith had THREE separate contracts with Melbourne Storm.
One was registered with the NRL, one was in a file at the Storm's administration headquarters and another was being hidden at the home of former CEO Matt Hanson.
The contracts, which were drawn up by disgraced former boss Brian Waldron, also included payments for a home renovation and a guaranteed commentary role at Fox Sports. Super League architect John Ribot negotiated the Fox Sports deal.
Smith continues to deny he was aware of any rorting.
Other instances of Storm stars having more than one contract have been uncovered by the investigators.
The Storm are $850,000 over the cap this season and an astonishing $1.5 million next season.
News Limited spokesman Greg Baxter yesterday told 2GB the company now believed board members and players knew many of the contracts were illegal.
"The amount of money is significantly higher than first estimated, which is a massive problem. There are people who have previously claimed to be entirely innocent in these events and we now have emails that prove otherwise," Baxter said.
"We have circumstantial evidence that suggests members of the board were involved. This is probably going to get worse before it gets better.
"There is now evidence that some players were aware these arrangements were illegal in terms of the salary cap rules and they were happy to go along with it. You'd have to now assume some of the star players won't be at the club next year."
Rothfield & Wilson:
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/smiths-three-contracts/story-e6frexnr-1225875916005
