Ok Belly, I understand you live for the game.

But seriously.

You run onto the park and look at the other team, stuffed with talent that has been illegally purchased, and you think... what?

Do you think "I wish the management of my club had the guts to cheat the salary cap like those guys"

Or do you think "It makes me sick to think that they only have that talent playing against us because their management are a bunch of cheats"

And doesn't it also occur to you that the elite players in their squad must have known about the cheating, and just kept quiet. And smug, because they win and you lose?

That's not a game. That's business, and unethical business at that.

I've said my piece. I just know how I'd feel about it, that's all.

Pericles I understand but think differently, do the crime do the time.
But am against the death sentence in this case, give them the points back, a real chance exists they would beat my team in the finals, but fair go mate has meaning.
Suzeonline,you may not be right, I think not every one could know.
Now rumors power any sport,at the falling over of some who are charged with drug dealing I over heard this 4 way conversation.
The coach is behind this he has been a druggy all his life.
Bloke told me he gives it out after the game, end quote.
4 old fools, may not have been past pub door in 30 years spoke those words.
Noticed two of them a week and a bit ago saying just how good the same coach had them going.
No team, even in the workplace, truly knows what others get in kick backs.

This scandal has been running now for some time. It appears at least possible that the Storm will hve their points returned and the overpaid players allowed to continue at lower salaries that bring them within the cap. That is what occurred when the Bulldogs had a similar salary-cap issue.

ISTM that this is what should have happened all along, if the stupidly self-aggrandising Gallop had been more able to think in a nuanced manner, Sadly, I'm comimg to the conclusion that he's not especially good at thinking for himself, so takes a "zero tolerance" position on everything, thus neatly sidestepping any need to. This may be unfair on him; it may be a directive from his masters who don't want any latitude given to lackeys, but that's the impression I get.

There has been much demonisation of Waldron, but I can't see how this could have occurred over a long period without the coach and the Board fully in the loop. Leave the players alone - they were negotiating to their own benefit individually and separately. They are not usually even involved directly, but delegate to their agents. Management were deliberately setting out to cheat. Why has the board been quarantined from any fallout?

Anyway, it seems that some semse may yet prevail.

Is money really the only possible incentive, in recruitment?
I'm not talking about money substitutes, like free houses, or free hamburgers for life. I'm wondering -in the absence of an unrestricted cash auction- what else would make players want to play for any particular club.
Reputation would always be a winner in competitive circles, I imagine. Having the best coach, a reputation for winning... What about how clubs use all this surplus cash they're not spending on players? Investing in schools programs to encourage more kids to play Rugby might appeal to some players. I think being able to be genuinely proud of the club you play for would be of inestimable value to some players.
I don't believe the way sporting records are continually broken is proof of evolution in humans. I think it far more likely it's because more and more humans are able to compete; through and increase in standards of living and opportunity. There are still a hell of a lot of kids in our 'advanced' society who will never get a chance to play competitive sport.
I wonder if a club's reputation for helping kids like that would encourage players to want to play for that club?

Fair comment Belly.

>>Pericles I understand but think differently, do the crime do the time.<<

But I think we disagree on the nature of the crime in question.

You cannot undo what has been done. That is why no-one replaced the Storm as champions when those titles were taken away - as you say, no-one would want to "win" due to the other side being disqualified.

So those two Grand Finals were actually conducted under false pretences. One side took the field with an advantage over the other that they had bought, illegally. Tens of thousands of fans watched what was to all intents and purposes a rigged game.

Doesn't that come under the heading of obtaining money under false pretences? Not the prize money - the money the fans paid to watch?

Aha... such a lot of space given over to such pathetic angst.

See this game, and all the others, for what they are.

An 'industry', a money grubbing business enterprise that relies on hordes of people with either not much going on in their lives, or too un-empowered that they have to live vicariously through a bunch of boofs playing a game or two every week.

"While I live for my game", says Belly, and having watched Storm fans on TV last night, he is not alone in this empty purpose.
That this team, never mind the whole 'game' is owned by a news business tells us all that Belly and others are being taken for a massive ride.

If supporters owned the clubs, I might be less cynical.

If sports clubs were not about 'merchandise' and one-armed bandits, but about 'sport' then business would not bother with it.

This is not only a storm in a teacup, but very welcome too.

Perhaps we will no longer have to watch barely literate 'blokes' uttering their desire to 'work at this 110%', or have to suffer the coaches comments when their star thug has been 'sent to the Due-Dishery', or is that the 'Jew-Dishery'?

As for Gallup, I support his actions '110%' and look forward to all the other teams being exposed for exactly the same sin- getting caught.

It just shows that 'business' is not to be trusted to do anything honestly, even having to cheat at a 'game', and that those who 'live for the game' while, possibly, being totally unable to play it themselves, are mugs, and need to engage in something a little more worthwhile than living their lives around 'their' weekly 'game'.

Next stop looks like its going to be cricket and 2020, or whatever rubbish the Indians are into.