http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...k=94911ef373b0a361c0d66ea48bc2c509-1499381225
NRL to begin salary cap probe as Manly Sea Eagles deny any wrongdoing
MICHAEL CARAYANNIS, The Daily Telegraph
THE NRL will begin interviewing senior Manly officials as early as next week as it looks to ramp up its investigation into alleged salary cap breaches by the Sea Eagles.
Manly continued to deny claims of any wrongdoing after the NRL announced
it would investigate the Sea Eagles regarding any illicit payments made outside the salary cap.
And on Thursday, the NRL began planning tactics for its investigations into a host of salary cap and integrity issues at the Sea Eagles despite not having any evidence of salary cap violations.
At the centre of allegations against the Sea Eagles are claims they made secret cash payments to a player, which is outside the salary cap rules.
It is understood police recently approached the NRL for clarity regarding the game’s third-party arrangements.
The NRL’s integrity unit investigator Karyn Murphy, a former police officer, will lead the investigation.
Murphy spearheaded the NRL’s examination of the Parramatta Eels last year which uncovered evidence of widespread salary cap rorting, resulting in the club being docked 12 competition points and a host of administrators being thrown out of the game.
It is understood the NRL will call in forensic experts to examine documents and computers if Murphy and her team uncover any evidence of wrongdoing.
There is also growing angst within NRL headquarters concerning the police, whose prolonged investigations are damaging the code.
It has been more than a year since police announced they would investigate alleged match fixing in the NRL — a day after Origin I.
Now the build-up to Origin III has been overshadowed by allegations of spot fixing, tax evasion, money laundering and illegal third-party payments.
Police are set to clear anyone of being involved in match fixing.
The NRL has pledged to take action against anyone found guilty of criminal activity but is disappointed that the game has again been slurred on the eve of the showpiece Origin finale.
An NRL spokesman said there would be no comment until the investigation was completed.
Manly remain defiant.
“The Sea Eagles confirm there are no allegations in relation to any irregularities with regard to the club’s salary cap,” the statement read.
“The club prides itself on strong governance and the highest level of integrity and compliance regarding the salary cap.
“The club is pleased to see report that no allegations have been proven in relation to the 12-month match-fixing investigation. The club is proud of its record of success and took immediate action by bringing in Ray Murrihy as an integrity consultant as soon as the allegations were made. Ray wrote an extensive report which cleared the club of any governance issues.
“The club has zero tolerance for inappropriate behaviour and if any charges or substantive claims are made we will tackle them head on and co-operate fully with the authorities as we have always done.”
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