The season of National Rugby League side Brisbane Broncos "hit another potentially devastating pothole" after the NRL confirmed that the club "was under investigation over potential breaches of the salary cap," according to Read & Koch of THE AUSTRALIAN. On the same day the club parted ways with long-serving player and official Andrew Gee, it emerged the Broncos had notified the NRL of some “potential irregularities” with its salary cap. The issues concern third-party deals that stretch back as far as three years and amount to several hundred thousand dollars (THE AUSTRALIAN, 5/28). In Sydney, Walter & Lutton reported "no money was paid to any Broncos player, suggesting the issue came to light after complaints by a player or players about a deal not being fulfilled." It is "not thought likely at this stage that the Broncos face the loss of competition points, but the NRL is investigating the matter." Gee, who was responsible for signing some of Brisbane's biggest stars, "is understood to have been on leave for up to two weeks before his resignation." Former Parramatta Recruitment Manager Peter Nolan "is returning to the club as list and recruitment manager" (SYDNEY MORNING HERALD, 5/27). In Brisbane, Badel & Rothfield reported the NRL probe "will involve the contracts of some of the biggest-name players in the NRL." Recent dealings involving recruit Ben Barba "will be put under the microscope, although there is no suggestion the former Dally M [NRL player award] winner is involved in any rorts." The NRL probe "will specifically examine third-party agreements and the fact at least one-big name player is out of pocket for a six-figure sum" (COURIER-MAIL, 5/27).
