Deine Mariner's manager has come out whinging that both him and the Phins were punished for trying to entice Mariner to break his contract, probably after Badel decided to interview him for clicks during the Brisbane rivalry game. See his quotes below (there are some red flags for me, i'll highlight them in ... well, red)
The Integrity unit found the Phins guilty of illegal dealings with Mariner
The Dolphins were hit with a $50,000 fine – $25,000 of which was suspended
Mariner’s manager Dixon McIver was also slapped with a provisional 12-month suspension should he again breach the NRL’s Playing Contract and Remuneration (PCR) Rules over the next two years.
Dixon McIver said:
“There’s a lot of rorts that have gone on in this game unpunished, yet I was punished for something that never happened,”
“I am still shocked by the whole thing. My name got dragged through the mud and it impacted on Deine as well.
“It’s now a blemish against my name and I’m not happy about it because it’s still a mark.
“The whole issue was overinflated. I was the unfortunate bugger who got made an example of.
“I still don’t understand the logic and how this all played out.
“The truth is the Dolphins did nothing wrong and not once was there any inducement for Deine to leave the Broncos.
“It disappointed me in a big way because I have always had a lot of pride in the way I conduct myself as an agent.
“I got made an example of, but to this day I am adamant there was nothing underhanded or untoward in what took place.
“The NRL took the action they did and I have another year to keep my name clean, which I intend to do.
“You have to ask the Broncos what they believe we did, but I know my side of the story.
“The truth is there was no tampering breach.
“I have been honest all along with the NRL.
“There has been a lot of stuff going on between the Dolphins and Broncos in Brisbane and I believe this (the Mariner spat) was the culmination of things.
“There was the Karl Oloapu issue as well, so the Broncos clearly had some frustrations.”
McIver confirmed he had interest from several clubs, including the Dolphins, but claims at no stage did Wayne Bennett’s club table a formal offer.
“We absolutely contemplated if it would be a wise move for Deine to look elsewhere, if in fact there was somewhere else to be,” he said.
“I initially asked Brisbane because of the logjam of talent. The Broncos had Selwyn Cobbo, Jesse Arthars, Herbie Farnworth, Kotoni Staggs coming through and Reece Walsh came back from the Warriors, so Deine didn’t know where he would fit in.
“We respectfully asked the Broncos for permission to negotiate, they respectfully declined and we respected that.
“This is exactly what happened – I had a brief discussion with the Dolphins and I communicated that to the NRL integrity unit.
“There was no coercion. There was nothing documented. There were no offers.
“We had one conversation with the Dolphins. There was nothing even concrete (related to a contract inducement) that would hold up in a court of law.
“We didn’t even have a formal meeting with the Dolphins. I had one passing conversation with a Dolphins official at a football oval and that was it.
“The Dolphins were one of several clubs to express interest in Deine.
“What baffled me the most is what notes can I supply to the NRL for something that never happened?
“A lot of people thought I would just roll over and blame the Dolphins. But the Dolphins did nothing wrong.
“I stuck to my word of being honest and I got f***ing crucified for it.
“I have no idea what Brisbane supplied to the NRL, I’m not privy to their statements, but Deine has since honoured his Broncos deal and there is no issue with him and Brisbane.
“We have since signed an extension, so Deine has no issue with being a Bronco.