Hypothetical: player involvement

[Flutterby]

From what I understand, any third party sponsorships (or income) arranged directly by the player (manager) without the involvement of the club does not get included in the cap. However any income the club has any direct involvement in must be included in the cap. So in your example Dexter, I would think that as the club contracted the company directly and knowing the player was an owner/shareholder/whatever, then I think it would have to come under the cap. Used to be that the club got players "second jobs" with sponsor companies as a way to complement their football income - in most cases the players in question probably couldn't have even found their way to said company's premises to perform their "second job"; but they had an employment contract with them and officially got a paycheck from that company. This has very much been cracked down on now - hence why Smith's work with News Ltd came under such scrutiny as they are part owners of the club. Some club also used to "employ" players' wives/girlfriends - again they rarely actually did any work for the club, but the paycheck was in the partner's name - again this is now much more cracked down on.

 

[Dexter]

Yeah, I am not so sure though when we are talking compnay structures because the players wife, partner, brother or whoever could be listed as the sole director with proceeds being distributed through a trust or held until after the player has finished his career.

I would imagine there are lots of ways lawyers and accountants could sufficiently disguise extra payments.

 

[Flutterby]

Oh yeah I have no doubt - but if it is ever found out there is any kind of personal relationship anywhere in the company with any of the players, then it'd be pretty thoroughly investigated

 

[Mister Wright]

If the players knew about the rorting keep it under wraps until after the Origin series. Better to have a full season to prepare Origin without those than to take the tarnish off what should be a remarkable Origin series.

It doesn't sit well with me, but I love Origin!

 

[Flutterby]

Speaking of Origin - they were talking on ABC the other day about how Bellamy is going to handle origin this year, given that it has really drained him the last couple of seasons - going into it with all that's gone on at the Storm is not ideal coach preparation.

 

[Mister Wright]

^

On the other hand, given there is a strong Melbourne contingent in the QLD origin side and they don't have a premiership to play for this year, it could be a strong motivator to get something out of their season.