Sharks coach Flanagan deregistered after breaching suspension
The NRL intends to cancel the registration of Cronulla Sharks coach Shane Flanagan and Wests Tigers chief executive Justin Pascoe as a result of two separate integrity unit investigations.
Key points:
- The NRL found evidence Shane Flanagan was involved in club matters with the Sharks during his suspension in 2014
- Justin Pascoe was sanctioned for failing to disclose a deal involving paying Robbie Farah outside the salary cap
- Flanagan and Pascoe have until the end of January to respond to their penalties
The unit found evidence Flanagan was deeply involved in player recruitment, retention and club business during a 12-month suspension in 2014, handed down in relation to the Sharks' peptide saga.
The club has also been fined $800,000, including the suspended $400,000 from the fine imposed after the supplements scandal in 2013 for which Flanagan was originally suspended.
NRL boss Todd Greenberg and chief operating officer Nick Weeks announced the decision at a press conference on Wednesday after meeting with the ARL Commission on Tuesday.
"Part of those conditions [for Flanagan's ban] was a requirement that the club not allow Mr Flanagan to be concerned directly or indirectly with the club whilst he was suspended," Greenberg said.
"That message was reinforced a number of times to Shane Flanagan and the Cronulla Sharks. They were crystal clear.
"We have uncovered a substantial volume of material that shows Mr Flanagan was closely and constantly in contact with the club."
Greenberg said that although the findings were provisional, Flanagan would "not be eligible to act in any official capacity" with the Sharks.
"I offered Shane Flanagan the chance to come in to meet with us," Greenberg said.
"He declined and we spoke on the phone. It was a short call."
Sharks chief executive Barry Russell said he was "very disappointed" with the outcome but acknowledged the behaviour of past club officials needed to punished.
"As CEO of the club, we have to accept responsibility that we broke the rules and if you break the rules, there are consequences," he said.
"We are paying for those right now.
'If you haven't got your integrity, you haven't got anything."
Russell said the Sharks would appeal against the fine but it would be up to Flanagan to decide if he wanted to challenge his deregistration.
Paul Gallen, who captained the Sharks to the 2016 premiership under the coaching of Flanagan, admitted the saga was a "distraction" for the club with preparations for next season in full swing.
"Shane Flanagan is obviously a personal friend of mine, he has been my coach for a long time and a personal friend for 20 years," Gallen said.
"What happened to him at the moment is disappointing. But unfortunately, if rules were broken, it's the way it is at the moment.
"My job as a player is to reassure all the fans and the members, as a playing group, we're pushing forward, into the 2019 season."
Cronulla has appointed assistants John Morris and Jim Dymock as caretaker coaches following Flanagan's deregistration.
Tigers penalised for salary cap breach
Separately, Wests Tigers boss Pascoe has also been stripped of his registration for failing to disclose a deal to pay Robbie Farah more than $600,000 outside the salary cap for an ambassadorial role after he retires from playing.
The Tigers also sought to have almost $500,000 made exempt from their salary cap in 2017, after telling the NRL they had to terminate Farah's contract because he was a destructive influence, while at the same time agreeing to the ambassadorial role after his playing career.
"We have obtained documents which show that the club entered an agreement to pay Robbie Farah to act as an ambassador at the club when he retires from playing," Greenberg said.
"This agreement was signed in 2016, at the same time Robbie left the club to join the Rabbitohs.
"The game's rules are very, very clear on these arrangements.
"Any commitment to make such a payment should have been disclosed and should have been included in the salary cap. The club failed to do this."
Greenberg said the club compounded its conduct by submitting a misleading application to the NRL in relation to the salary cap treatment of money paid to Farrah when he left the club.
The Tigers issued a media statement, saying the club was "shocked" and "extremely disappointed" with the decision.
"It is an arrangement that Wests Tigers had with Robbie that is unrelated to his career as a player," the statement read.
"The club does not know if he is going to take it up and Robbie has not indicated his intention in return."
The Tigers said they would be "vigorously defending" their behaviour in the entire process.
"Wests Tigers derive absolutely no advantage from this arrangement. It is not tied in any way to Robbie's playing contract," the statement read.
"Wests Tigers are particularly concerned about the wrongful attack on the integrity of the club's CEO. For the last three years Justin has shown nothing but respect for the NRL and the salary cap."
NRL comes down hard on offending clubs
Greenberg consulted the ARL Commission before deciding on the punishment handed down to Flanagan and Pascoe.
He said there was no hesitation to come down hard on the Sharks and Tigers.
"It is clear that the penalties imposed by the NRL are not deterring some clubs from trying to cheat the salary cap or breach the rules to gain an unfair advantage," Greenberg said.
"The commission has therefore asked to review the penalties for salary cap offences. That means looking at increased fines, increased suspensions and stripping clubs of competition points.
"We will do and we will take whatever steps are required to protect the integrity of our competition."
Both Mr Pascoe and Mr Flanagan have until the end of January to respond to the sanctions.
[contf]
[contfnew]
ABC .net
[contfnewc]
[contfnewc]
