NRL will help Eels get back on their feet

NRL boss Todd Greenberg has promised the governing body will play a major role in who runs Parramatta once the salary cap saga is over.

Greenberg confirmed on Saturday the Eels had lost 12 competition points and fined $1 million for systemic salary cap breaches dating back to the 2013 season.

It means the Eels have officially fallen to 12th on the ladder and need to win all of their remaining eight games to meet the traditional 28-point minimum cut-off to make the finals.

Five Parramatta officials – chairman Steve Sharp, deputy chairman Tom Issa, club director Peter Serrao, chief executive John Boulous and football manager Daniel Anderson – have also been deregistered.

With the Eels having the right to appeal the final determination, they responded by saying they would review all documents before issuing a public reply.

However, Greenberg said league central would move to play a critical part in helping the Eels get back on their feet and not repeat the mistakes of previous administrations.

“The NRL has deliberately decided not to intervene in the affairs of the club while this investigation has been under way but that changes now,” Greenberg said on Saturday.

“We want to see a strong board and we will do all we can to facilitate that.

“We will be calling on the board, and working with the members, to install a management team which sets the club on the right path for the future.”

Greenberg took aim at the so-called Eels’ ‘gang of five’, accusing them of failing to take responsibility for the former powerhouse club’s mess.

“These five officials have damaged the game,” he said.

“They have damaged the club and they’ve let their fans down. Let me say this is not an easy call to make, especially for someone like Steve Sharp.

“The overall impression that I got from the responses is that no one at the club has taken responsibility for the deliberate, systemic and blatant breaches of the salary cap … we have to take a strong stand to preserve the integrity of the salary cap and the competition.”

Eels coach Brad Arthur admitted Parramatta’s front office needed an overhaul.

“To say I’m disappointed is an understatement,” Arthur told Triple M radio.

“I feel really sorry for our playing group, for our fans.

“I haven’t bought into the politics all along. Really, my job is to coach the team and my job is to focus on that. I just hope that we can, as a club, move forward. We do need to be better run off the field.”

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