Embattled National Rugby League side Parramatta Chair Steve Sharp and CEO John Boulous on Thursday night pledged to "open their books" to the NRL as they met with Australian Rugby League Commission Chair John Grant and GM of Integrity Nick Weeks amidst a "fresh crisis engulfing the Eels," according to Chris Barrett of the SYDNEY MORNING HERALD. The competition's "most-strife torn franchise is again in damage control" and has committed to comply with an NRL investigation that has been now "been widened to take in a series of new claims." After meeting with Sharp and Boulous at NRL HQ, Grant said on Thursday night that an "exhaustive investigation would begin into Parramatta's compliance with the salary cap." Grant: "It's very important for the club and its fans and members that the investigation determine once and for all whether there have been any undisclosed breaches of the salary cap. And if there have been, they will be dealt with." As the Eels met with the NRL it also emerged that the governing body "is looking at eradicating third-party agreements for the competition's lesser-name players" on the back of the "latest Parramatta fiasco," believing the club is prone to "breaking salary cap rules." Questions are being raised at the NRL about how the third-party system can be reworked so that "registered additional payments from non-club entities are directed principally towards bigger name players" (SMH, 3/10).
