National Rugby League side Parramatta Eels Dir Peter Serrao "has become the first of the Eels' so-called 'gang of five' to break their silence, saying he is hopeful of clearing his name and claiming he was left in the dark about the club's rorting of NRL salary cap rules with third-party agreements," according to Barrett & Proszenko of the SYDNEY MORNING HERALD. Like the other four officials to receive show-cause notices on May 3 -- Chair Steve Sharp, Deputy Chair Tom Issa, CEO John Boulous and Football Operations Manager Daniel Anderson -- Serrao "is suspended from his post as a Parramatta football club board member until the NRL makes a final determination on the Eels' penalty, which is expected by the end of next week."
Having filed his response to the NRL by the original deadline -- the other four accepted an extension -- Serrao "is determined to clear his name." Serrao: "When I read the breach notice, there were a number of things I found quite disturbing. I didn't actually sit on the salary cap committee and I wasn't actually involved in any discussions with player agents or about TPAs." While "he has been lumped in with the others as a culprit for the Eels' cap breaches dating back to 2013, those with knowledge of the NRL's investigation have suggested from the outset that he was anything but a ringleader or architect." Serrao "has argued that he did raise concerns with other officials at Parramatta but they weren't followed up." He said, "I've put my submission in and I'm sure I'll get a fair hearing from the NRL. I've got a different view from the NRL in terms of my breach notice" (SMH, 6/13).
