‘More drama’ for Eels as club is sued over 2016 salary cap scandal

The tough times at the Eels are about to get even worse with the club reportedly being sued by the liquidator of a company that made third-party payments during the 2016 salary cap scandal.

The Australian’s Brent Read revealed on NRL 360 that the club is aware of what is unfolding but refused to comment on it.

“They’re getting sued... if we go back five years to the 2016 salary cap scandal and there was a company that was involved in that, that was paying some players third party agreements. I think Jarryd Hayne and Anthony Watmough were the guys getting paid by them,” he said.

“That company has now gone broke and as a result of that the liquidators are suing Parramatta, basically suggesting that maybe these payments, because they were made, that the liquidation should have access to that money.

“It’s obviously an unwanted distraction, the club’s aware of it. They didn’t want to talk about it today... but just more drama.”

A reported total of $225,000 was paid to Hayne and Watmough over two to three years in third-party payments.

As per Read’s article via The Australian, liquidators for Blackcitrus Pty Ltd have launched action in the New South Wales Supreme Court, with a statutory report filed by liquidators with the Australian Securities and Investments Commission listing a number of potential assets.

One of those is a claim against the Parramatta Eels Football Club for an “uncertain” amount.

The matter is due before court on September 8.

The NRL’s investigation into the 2016 salary cap breach ultimately found that found that the Eels made a series of third-party agreements via ScoreCube — a subsidiary of Blackcitrus.

As a result, the Eels were fined $1 million, lost 12 competition points and stripped of their 2016 Auckland Nines title

This latest twist is not what the club needs in the middle of a serious form slump that has seen them lose four consecutive games and drop out of the top four.

While it’s a matter that has nothing to do with coach Brad Arthur and his playing group, it’s an unwelcomed distraction as they desperately try to rediscover their mojo in time for finals.

 

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