Warriors in salary cap investigation

[Dakink]

http://nrl.com.au/News/News/tabid/5...96/Default.aspx

Warriors chairman Maurice Kidd said former chief executive Mick Watson wasn't apologetic when the pair spoke following the league club's punishment for breaching its salary cap.

The Auckland-based club was fined $A430,000 and docked four competition points by the National Rugby League at a meeting in Sydney on Monday.

The Warriors were found to have breached the cap in 2004 and 2005 by making undisclosed payments, unregistered agreements with third parties and guaranteeing payments to players after they had retired, in the form of employment with the club.

Kidd told Radio Sport former general manager Spiro Tsiros and Watson - in charge when the breaches were made - had disappointed fans and those involved with the club.

"They've let themselves down, they've let the board down ... and no doubt they've let the fans down and that's disappointing."

When asked if Watson was apologetic, Kidd said: "No".

He later said he didn't want to go into details about the call as it was generally private.

Kidd said the club was disappointed at both the fine and the points deduction.

"There were breaches, and we expected to be penalised for that, we had thought there would be a fine ... it's just the level of the fine. In terms of the penalty deduction, we thought we had made some progress on that and thought it might not be as severe as it is."

Kidd wouldn't be drawn on exactly how many players were involved in the investigation.

Warriors veteran Awen Guttenbeil said the players are meeting to voice their concerns. He said there were a few frustrations as to how the situation was allowed to happen, but that players were looking forward.

"We're in this predicament now so we've just got to get on with it," he said.

Guttenbeil said he wasn't prepared to comment on the details of the breach but was still confident the team could make the final eight in the competition.

"It's basically about coming to grips with it and not using it as an excuse at all."

He could have at least mouther the right words for putting the club in this predicament! :box:

[Dakink]

They are going to challenge the penalty - Id be more inclined to cop it on the chin and move on with the season. Especially given the last line.

Warriors to challenge penalty
From correspondents in Auckland
March 1, 2006

NEW Zealand Warriors announced today it would challenge the NRL's punishment of the club's salary cap breach.

Fury: Warriors chief rings Gallop

Warriors executive director of football John Hart said submissions would be made seeking a more lenient points penalty.

The NRL on Monday docked the Warriors four competition points and fined the club $430,000 for a salary cap breach of nearly $1 million.

"The club will be making submissions to the NRL against the severity of the sentence," Hart said.

"We think the points deduction's totally unfair."

However, Hart said the Warriors accepted that the NRL had warned clubs two years ago that points would be deducted for salary cap breaches.

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He added the Warriors would be working with the NRL to ensure they were under the 2006 salary cap by the March 12 first round.