Storm Directors Fight Penalties

Independent directors of the Melbourne Storm team have decided to take legal action in regards to the stripping of the Premiership titles for cheating. The directors claim that the fines, stripping of points and titles were all handed down in breach of the NRL rules and are therefore not valid. This moves comes as a bit of surprise to people as it was the very same directors who, when the salary cap scandal hit headlines, stood up and said they would accept the penalties imposed. The backflip on the penalty is apparently backed by the players. Of course… Why wouldn’t they support it? No skin off their nose, its not like they have to pay for it. The directors are seeking an injunction that would stop the NRL from imposing the penalties and are also seeking costs on the back of it.

In a slightly ironic move the Storm directors claimed that the NRL decision was “not fair, impartial or transparent”…Hmmm.  

In a more unexpected move, the owner of the Melbourne Storm, News Ltd, have come out and said that they do not support the appeal and would not be funding the legal action. The exact source of the funding for the legal bid has not been disclosed but has been described as from supporters. NRL chief executive, David Gallop,  has fired back at the news by stating that the extent of the Storm’s cheating is likely to exceed the originally stated $1.7m and for the Storm to come out with this news before the investigation is over is all the more offensive.

I tend to agree with Gallop in this occasion. What do the Storm hope to achieve from this endeavour? They want their names back on the trophy and to be called the champs. In some deluded world, they actually think that by fighting the system that they cheated in the first place, they will regain the respect of rugby league fans and players? I honestly cannot see what they hope to achieve from this venture, except be even more hated by NRL fans. Goodluck to them…..Losers!