NRL boss Todd Greenberg has accused Parramatta’s salary-cap masterminds of being in denial and demanded the club get its house in order.
In addition to facing the loss of all 12 competition points so far accrued in 2016 and a $1 million fine, the Eels’ board has been decimated by the league’s plan to de-register five senior officials.
Chief executive John Boulous, chairman Steve Sharp and CEO head of football Daniel Anderson, deputy chairman Tom Issa and director Peter Serrao have all been stood down, with Greenberg suggesting the breach notices were the culmination of almost a decade of dysfunctional management.
“In the last seven years, this club has had 25 directors, six CEOs and four head coaches,” he said on Tuesday.
“They’ve breached the salary cap in five of the last six years.”
Greenberg said the league and its integrity unit had given the board numerous invitations to come forward and be up-front about its activities.
“But to this point, they have failed to do so,” he said.
“The Parramatta Eels, over the last couple of months, have continued to do what they’ve done, which is to continue to deny their issues inside their club and we had a duty to report the facts.”
Integrity unit boss Nick Weeks admitted to being both frustrated and disappointed by the Eels’ lack of cooperation.
“We rely on clubs to provide us with information that is accurate, to provide us with full information and that’s been difficult to get from Parramatta,” Weeks said.
The remaining four executives held an emergency meeting on Tuesday afternoon and Greenberg said the NRL had also offered to assist with “resources”.
“Parramatta have the ability to be a super club in this city in Sydney and we want them to be that,” Greenberg said.
“But they need to be well managed and well governed in order for that to happen.”