http://www.couriermail.com.au/sport/nrl ... 7092537489
Four other clubs - the Sea Eagles, Knights, Roosters and Tigers - were also fined over minor breaches, with combined penalties reaching less than $90,000.
THE Gold Coast Titans have been fined $300,000 and docked four NRL competition points for salary cap breaches relating to former player Scott Prince.
Prince has been sacked from his role as an NRL One Community Ambassador over the drama, while officials involved have been banned for life.
The points penalty has been suspended for the next two years.
The matter relates to a scheme orchestrated by the previous management of the Titans at the end of 2012 when Prince left the club for the Broncos.
The salary cap investigation cleared the Brisbane Broncos of any wrongdoing.
However, the NRL said the Broncos “investigation was impeded because it was not possible to obtain information from the Broncos Leagues Club and others from the Broncos who have left the game.”
The NRL said Titans officials involved in the scam, plus Broncos officials who refused to co-operate, will likely never work in the game again.
“Given the evidence currently before us, there are former officials from both clubs who are unlikely to be registered to be involved in the NRL in the future,” said general manager of integrity Nick Weeks.
Scott Prince during his time at the Titans.
Scott Prince during his time at the Titans.
Four other clubs - the Sea Eagles, Knights, Roosters and Tigers - were also fined over minor breaches, with combined penalties reaching less than $90,000.
Gold Coast’s issue dated back to payments made to former skipper Prince that were “substantially more than the contract lodged with the NRL by a previous Titans administration.”
The NRL found the previous administration and Prince never disclosed the difference in remuneration, which was only unearthed by the new management.
The Titans’ salary cap breach relates to Scott Prince.
The Titans’ salary cap breach relates to Scott Prince.
The Titans had $75,000 of its fine and four competition point penalty suspended because the club, under new management led by CEO Graham Annesley, self-reported their problems and fully co-operated with the investigation.
The investigation found no evidence of systemic rorting of the salary cap at the club.
The suspended fine and points will be applied if there are any further salary cap breaches by the Titans over the next two years.
Weeks said the Titans penalty was no reflection on the current administration, which had worked with the NRL to resolve the matter.
Graham Annesley’s administration self-reported the issues.
Graham Annesley’s administration self-reported the issues.
Meanwhile the NRL has issued fines to four other clubs for lesser breaches totalling less than $90,000.
Those issues include:
• Sea Eagles ($6,000 – overspend breach)
• Knights ($35,519 – overspend breach)
• Roosters ($40,000 – comprised of $20,000 fine and $20,000 suspended for two years. The penalty relates to a lack of substantive notes of negotiation)
• Tigers ($9,326 – NYC overspend)
“I am satisfied that clubs are generally attempting to meet their salary cap duties,” Weeks said.
“But all clubs are on notice that we have drawn a line in the sand.
“If clubs breach the salary cap in the future they will face heavy penalties, including the loss of competition points.”
Former Titans boss Michael Searle has been cleared of any involvement.
Former Titans boss Michael Searle has been cleared.
Former Titans boss Michael Searle has been cleared.
Annesley fronted the press this afternoon and said the club had accepted the NRL’s significant punishment.
Annesley said there was not a single staff member at the Titans who was involved in the breach.
Annesley pledged the club would never be guilty of a cap breach again under his watch.
“From the limited information I have from the NRL since they advised me of the penalty is that they could find no evidence that Michael Searle had any knowledge of this particular incident,” he said.
“The moment I found out about this I reported it to the NRL.
“I don’t have all the knowledge of what went on in this investigation. It is the NRL’s investigation.”
The Broncos issued a short statement on their website after the NRL ruling was announced.
“The Brisbane Broncos today welcomed the NRL’s determination that the club has been cleared of any salary cap breach,” the statement said.
“The Broncos self reported this matter to the NRL earlier this year in an act of transparency, and always had faith the club would be found to have no case to answer.
“The NRL have vindicated that faith with today’s ruling and the club now considers the matter closed.”
liar extraordinaire 
