A A$20,000 ($15,300) payment from National Rugby League side Parramatta Eels directly to Wayne Beavis "has raised a fresh cloud over the future of the veteran player agent, in a development that could affect his chances of negotiating an NRL contract for star client Jarryd Hayne," according to Proszenko & McClymont of the SYDNEY MORNING HERALD. St. George player Benji Marshall said that "the Eels should not have the cap space" to sign Hayne for the remainder of '16. However, "the governing body is now turning its focus onto the role of player agents -- and potentially players -- in the next phase of its investigation." The conduct of at least four high-profile agents "will be scrutinised in coming weeks, as the NRL integrity unit prepares a report that will be passed on to the Agent Accreditation Committee for review." While agents "are meant to take their fees via a percentage of the client's earnings," Eels CEO Scott Seward claimed that "the Eels paid Beavis directly for securing the services of Lee Mossop from the English Super League," and that another player agent, Paul Sutton, claimed to be owed A$10,000 ($7,600) for persuading Corey Norman to join the Eels (SMH, 7/14).
FRAUD SQUAD: The AAP reported New South Wales Police "established a taskforce to investigate deals as part of Parramatta's NRL salary cap scandal." Fraud squad detectives "will look into a range of potentially serious crimes including money laundering and fraud." No players "are understood to be under investigation" (AAP, 7/14).
