Car deals at the centre of Manly Sea Eagles salary cap investigation
Cars provided to players by Brookvale Mazda formed a crucial plank in the NRL's salary cap investigations as a legal stoush looms over what constitutes an "arm's length" third-party arrangement.
Fairfax Media can reveal that the car deals and player sponsorships from long-time lawyer Brenda Duchen to Sea Eagles players are among the arrangements under the microscope. Those deals have previously been registered by the NRL and there is no suggestion that the sponsors or players have acted inappropriately in securing them
The NRL is scrutinising deals done during the past five years, a period in which Brookvale Mazda has entered into third-party deals with almost a dozen players.
Tom and Jake Trbojevic, as well as Darcy Lussick and Curtis Sironen, are listed on the car dealer's website as ambassadors. Other players to have been provided cars as part of a sponsorship in recent years include Daly Cherry-Evans, Kieran Foran, Marty Taupau, Brenton Lawrence, Tom Symonds, Jessie Sene-Lefao and Jamie Buhrer.
Some of those deals have piqued the interest of Rugby League Central and the club is now tasked with explaining the nature of the relationships that led to them in some cases.
Mazda Brookvale owner Joe Rinaldi said he was unaware his company was named in the breach notice and believed all deals had been in line with NRL regulations.
"It would probably be about 10 to 12 players [we've sponsored] since about 2013," Rinaldi said.
Asked how the deals were brokered, Rinaldi said: "Through the agents, or I've actually gone to see them play. I've sourced them myself in some cases. They are locals. [I've aligned the business because] the northern beaches is very insulated and they play for the local club."
Duchen has been involved in the sponsorship of just three players, understood to be Foran, Dylan Walker and Matt Parcell. The TPAs have been for relatively small amounts, believed to amount to about $50,000 a year on average. The contracts have previously been rubberstamped by the NRL, but the governing body is casting another eye over whether Manly guaranteed them.
Duchen declined to comment.
Another area of contention between club and head office relates to deals for Foran. At one point, Foran instructed lawyers to pursue about $150,000 he claimed was owed to him after he defected to arch-rivals Parramatta. It is understood the contention arose over whether the amount was categorised as a third-party arrangement or a marquee player allowance. Ultimately, Foran dropped the matter and it was deemed an MPA, although the NRL may now form a different view following its probe into alleged salary cap breaches at the club.
It is understood the NRL was unable to trace any illegal payments. However, after trawling through thousands of emails and text messages, the governing body will allege that some of the supposed introductions made should be counted against the cap, even when deals ultimately weren't done. The NRL will allege that players were taken off the open market over alleged TPA "promises", whether they were fulfilled or otherwise.
The outcome of the Manly saga will have huge ramifications for the code, as the controversial TPA system comes under fire for its ability to be manipulated. There is also the issue of inequality, with the payments working against the salary cap's objective of creating a level playing field across the 16 clubs.
The drama is expected to stretch into the off season as Manly takes the time required to respond to the notices.
http://www.canberratimes.com.au/rug...salary-cap-investigation-20171213-h047sy.html
