The National Rugby League admitted it hired a forensic accountancy firm linked to Australian Rugby League Commission member Tony McGrath to investigate alleged salary cap breaches at Manly and Parramatta, "raising serious questions about a conflict of interest," according to Andrew Webster of the SYDNEY MORNING HERALD. McGrath, who did not return calls, has been a commissioner since '14. In a "stunning" admission, the NRL confirmed McGrath's firm was contracted during last year's probe into the Parramatta Eels. While there is "no suggestion of wrongdoing" on McGrath's behalf, the decision from the NRL's integrity unit to contract a company linked to a current commissioner "will shock many stakeholders in the game." The revelation comes as Manly "starts to dig in over the NRL's preliminary findings" into its "alleged cheating over a five-year period." Club officials had no comment on Wednesday, but it is understood they are "gearing up for a legal stoush," claiming there has been "nothing more than procedural breaches of third-party agreements instead of systematic rorting" (SMH, 12/13).
U.S. TEST: In Sydney, Brent Read reported NRL clubs are raising "concerns over plans" to play a test match between New Zealand and England in the U.S. "in the middle of next season." The game is the "brainchild" of Jason Moore, who has been "largely responsible" for the bid to play the 2025 World Cup in the U.S. Talks "have escalated over the past week" after the plan to play the test match -- to coincide with the stand-alone State of Origin weekend -- was "briefly discussed" at last week's meeting of club CEOs. The proposal would see the game played at the home of the NFL Denver Broncos. Several club officials "have not surprisingly demurred at the prospect of sending players halfway around the world in the middle of the season" (THE AUSTRALIAN, 12/14).
