Melbourne should sit out 2010 comp

[Guest]

They are still taking the field with a side that's way over the cap...it is still an unfair advantage they have over the other teams they are playing...regardles if they can't win any comp points for the year they are still cheating with the side they are putting on the field and any team that gets beat by them and has no chance of earning the 2 points should still feel cheated...just because the tv rights say they get 8 games per weekend is not a good enough excuse to let them continue as they are...they either sit out the season and all teams recieve a bye against them or the other fair solution is they cull their side to get it under the cap and run out a team that is under the cap to be fair against their competitiors...the ones they cull obviously still have to be paid but they can't partake in any more games in the NRL for this year...

[stephenj]

any team no playing the storm is in danger, storm players have nothing to lose, they can intentionally try to hurt? if they get sent off so what, their team doesnt really need them? the refs working at those games might get a real work out, witness the reemergence of wringside wrestling grapple tackles by the experts?

[Guest]

What about the teams that have already played them and lost mate?

[redwhiteandbluester]

any team no playing the storm is in danger, storm players have nothing to lose, they can intentionally try to hurt? if they get sent off so what, their team doesnt really need them? the refs working at those games might get a real work out, witness the reemergence of wringside wrestling grapple tackles by the experts?

Yeah I'm worried about this type of thing as well; professional pride will only get them so far.

They will still win a lot of games this year, but there will be a lot of funny instances like this that could arise. Sure, there will be some games they turn up for but there will be others where they completely throw in the towel, realising there is no point, and really get the cleaners put through them.

Especially towards the end of the season if the squad deteriorates.

[Guest]

What about the teams that have already played them and lost mate?

They have a right to be extremely pissed off about being cheated out of the 2 points...and obviously the teams that have to play them twice are even further disadvantaged...the lucky ones are the ones playing the Storm near the seasons end when they will have given up as it's pointless and they will be eyeing their end of season trip instead...they will play for pride for a handful of games and then reality will kick in and how can you be enthusiastic about playing for skata...

This is the only flaw in the punishment handed down to them that irks me...they are still playing with an unfair advantage....

[elo]

There's 2 main reasons.

1) Players would sue the league/club.
2) TV/Radio/Media deals would be broken and would also lead to the league being sued.

Simply put, they can't be cut.

[Guest]

the teams who have lost to melbourne this year should be awarded the 2 points, as should any team who plays them, they are fielding an illegal team, so the contest is unfair based on the rules..... some teams play them twice, if they lose twice to an illegal team why should they be penalised more than the teams who only play melbourne once?

[Guest]

the teams who have lost to melbourne this year should be awarded the 2 points, as should any team who plays them, they are fielding an illegal team, so the contest is unfair based on the rules..... some teams play them twice, if they lose twice to an illegal team why should they be penalised more than the teams who only play melbourne once?

Unfortunately if you give each team 2 points for their games against the Storm then the teams that play them twice then effectively get 2 byes where the teams that play them once only get one "storm bye".

Doesn't seem to be any easy way to solve this problem fairly for all with the way the comp is structured.

[Guest]

Toss the Storm our, restart the comp and the offseason will be shorter. Everybody wins, except the cricket-lovers and I'm okay with that.

[Guest]

Unfortunately if you give each team 2 points for their games against the Storm then the teams that play them twice then effectively get 2 byes where the teams that play them once only get one "storm bye".

Doesn't seem to be any easy way to solve this problem fairly for all with the way the comp is structured.

Yeah, I see your point, well I guess they should just be forced to sit out the season. I dont want to see them winning any games with their illegal team.

[Andrew Walker]

They have a right to be extremely pissed off about being cheated out of the 2 points...and obviously the teams that have to play them twice are even further disadvantaged...the lucky ones are the ones playing the Storm near the seasons end when they will have given up as it's pointless and they will be eyeing their end of season trip instead...they will play for pride for a handful of games and then reality will kick in and how can you be enthusiastic about playing for skata...

This is the only flaw in the punishment handed down to them that irks me...they are still playing with an unfair advantage....

You are contradicting yourself somewhat here.On one hand you are saying they have an unfair advantage with the team they have.Yet on the other hand you are saying they will only try for a handful of games then stop trying as nthey wont be enthusiastic playing for skata.

[Guest]

Unfortunately if you give each team 2 points for their games against the Storm then the teams that play them twice then effectively get 2 byes where the teams that play them once only get one "storm bye".

Doesn't seem to be any easy way to solve this problem fairly for all with the way the comp is structured.

This is a shambles.

There is so much speculation about how the Storm players will react. However, I can also see opposition clubs using the Storm games as exhibition games and basically naming experimental or second string sides rather than risk injury.

The solution needed to be that they were;

• Suspended until such time they were within the cap
• Have to release players in order to comply, not apply pay cuts
• Play under a reduced cap of $3m for 3 - 5 years.
• The released players would still be paid by the storm until the expiry of their Storm contract or for as long as they stayed at their new club.

Before anyone mentions it, this is what should have happened to the Dogs in 2002 (as well as the 37 point reduction). The players took a paycut at the Dogs which meant we still appeared to be over the cap. It took the club nearly 6 years to cleanse it's payroll as a result.

[Andrew Walker]

This is a shambles.

There is so much speculation about how the Storm players will react. However, I can also see opposition clubs using the Storm games as exhibition games and basically naming experimental or second string sides rather than risk injury.

The solution needed to be that they were;

• Suspended until such time they were within the cap
• Have to release players in order to comply, not apply pay cuts
• Play under a reduced cap of $3m for 3 - 5 years.
• The released players would still be paid by the storm until the expiry of their Storm contract or for as long as they stayed at their new club.

Before anyone mentions it, this is what should have happened to the Dogs in 2002 (as well as the 37 point reduction). The players took a paycut at the Dogs which meant we still appeared to be over the cap. It took the club nearly 6 years to cleanse it's payroll as a result.

In which my eyes you still managed to illegally win a competition at our expense and still compete in finals series in 03 06 AND 07 Due to gathering an illegal squad Dont come here and cry that ot took 6 years to cleanse your payroll as Besides your two thoroughly deserved wooden spoons in 02 and 08 you had a good run from 01 onwards with that illegally assembled side

[Guest]

In which my eyes you still managed to illegally win a competition at our expense

That is precisely my point ... regardless of whether that side may or may not have been below the cap.

[Andrew Walker]

That is precisely my point ... regardless of whether that side may or may not have been below the cap.

Simple mathematics of the matter say the 03 and 04 teams were also over the cap To say it took 6 years to cleanse your payroll is misleading and implies your club had a hard time of it When in reality besides the two throroughly desrved wooden spoons you got You were quite succesful and still enjoyed on field success through this period