The Parramatta Eels have made a significant payment of $500,000 to settle a long-standing Supreme Court case related to the club’s salary cap scandal in 2016. The case, which was lodged by liquidators for Blackcitrus, a firm involved in the scandal, sought $1,177,601 for the company’s creditors.
The settlement brings to a close a dark chapter in the Eels’ history, which saw the club docked 12 competition points, fined $1 million, stripped of the 2016 Auckland Nines title, and forced to offload players after being found to have systematically breached the NRL salary cap rules.
The scandal, which involved payments to former Eels stars Jarryd Hayne and Anthony Watmough through Scorecube, a wholly owned subsidiary of Blackcitrus, led to the removal of the club’s board and significant corporate governance changes.
The Eels’ decision to settle the matter rather than allowing it to proceed to a Supreme Court hearing prevents the details of the payments and the club’s involvement in the scandal from being made public. This move is likely seen as a way to avoid further embarrassment and distraction for the club, which is currently struggling on the field, sitting at the bottom of the ladder with a 0-4 start to the season.
The settlement also brings closure to a saga that has haunted the Eels for years, allowing the club to move forward and focus on rebuilding and improving their on-field performance. With a new coach, Jason Ryles, at the helm, the Eels will be looking to turn their season around and make a push for the playoffs.
In other news, the Eels face the Dragons at CommBank on Saturday, marking the first time Dragons recruit Clint Gutherson and Parramatta counterpart Zac Lomax will face their former clubs. The match promises to be an exciting encounter, with both teams looking to secure a much-needed win.
Overall, the settlement of the salary cap scandal case brings a sense of closure and finality to a difficult chapter in the Eels’ history, allowing the club to move forward and focus on the future.