Wrap - Foxes and Hounds

1. The real Eels story in case you missed it....Ryan Morgan has signed with Melbourne Storm mid week thereby bringing the Eels under the salary cap. His prized fat contract is now off the books...until he decides if he wants to return to the Eels next year...(how can this be?).

2. Apart from the autonomy of clubs and the insult it provides, can anyone explain why the NRL do not simply hold all of the player salary component of their grant centrally and as contracts are registered and approved by the NRL, all monies are paid from them centrally. Saves on monitoring of salary cap. This then opens up Third Party Agreements (TPA's) as an area where there is no confusion and absolute proof required. Narrowing of investigation and club transparency is surely improved.

In addition, the following things should occur immediately:

a. All cash payment providers and recipients (player agents and players) are investigated and punished.
b. Club contracts to participate in the NRL are dependent on NRL representation on the Board of any club proven to be in breach of the salary cap.
c. Publication of all TPA's occurs publicly (minus the names of players receiving them, but bundled by player1, player 2, etc).
d. Bank accounts of all players can be inspected as part of participation in the NRL...controversial, but seemingly necessary.

At present it is a confused and jumbled mess. It is also possibly the most boring story in world sport.

The noble advice from dopey ex players who now drive buses, sell used cars or tried to burn their own cars for insurance fraud is surely welcomed by very few. Noble advice to walk away and resign also presupposes guilt.

The NRL do not strike me as a squeaky machine that is blameless or exercising great precision. 750,000 documents and they have read them all in context? Please....Greenberg himself has had to defend himself from stone throwers over the Barba affair a couple of seasons ago. How did he feel about that? Accept it and walk away? He should know better than to talk tough without time for the club to respond. Rank amateur really.

Once again the proof relies on the self interest of mates (Seward-Greenberg) and fluke discoveries to pin a club. Is Seward to be trusted? A merchandiser for Bulldogs turned CEO? He was the dope who allowed the Foran clause!

How might this impact on someone's livelihood in the future if they accept this as fact? Due process and procedural fairness is owed to the 'Gang of Five', regardless of what Ray Hadley or other news hounds thinks. I wonder how Ray would feel if it was his livelihood? He is often managing matters before the court.

Anderson started in October 2013...for 2014 and 2015 and he is to blame? What about Paul Osborne? Bob Bentley and Ken Edwards before Sharp (started in May 2013)? It runs deeper than this. A convenient way to score points (ironically) for yourself as the new CEO of the game.

3. City v Country. Great for the guys in the game, but what was learned from it regarding selections for NSW Origin? Cartwright should be first picked. De Belin is a cracking player.

4. Leicester. I have been banging on about their progress for many, many weeks. It is a fairytale result which underlines that spoiled rich players are not always better. Leicester will probably never even get close again, but will always be remembered for this remarkable triumph. Their coach Ranieri is tremendously composed and calm. He could teach many coaches a lot.

5. Waratahs are clawing their way back. Is it just me or is the surface of Alliance Stadium an absolute disgrace. It is a slow bog - like the old Brookvale Oval. Looks like they might have to fix it now that no new stadium will be built. It does not lend itself to entertaining play. It is too heavy underfoot.

6. Swans. Slow to start, but cranked it all up eventually. Buddy is exceptional. This Isaac Heeney is something amazing too. His vertical leap and strength is outstanding!

North Melbourne and the Western Bulldogs are playing real well. Tough and athletic. Speedy and smart. Hawthorn will be back to whack the GWS team who are also progressing well. Interesting that Eddie Maguire would prefer to beat GWS by 60 points or 100 points, but when they improve...?? He should spend more time getting Collingwood right. They have been appalling in 2016. Adelaide are travelling better that they appear on the ladder. The old classic...play enough good teams and you look bad early. The same points as the Demons, but a stratosphere apart.

7. Cricket. Does anyone know anything about the IPL...it drags on and needs to be restricted. Get back to normal transmission. I note Micky Arthur has been appointed to coach Pakistan. There's a divorce right there.

8. Tomic. If he goes to the Rio Olympics sport has hit rock bottom. Playing match point with his racquet handle...he should be banished forever. Would anyone care? No. Kgyrios the same. Imposters both. End them as they themselves have ended their availability for Australia as it has suited them. What is tennis doing in the Olympics? A hopeless joke. Have a look: http://www.smh.com.au/sport/tennis/2016-madrid-open-bernard-tomic-faces-serve-with-a-reversed-racquet-20160503-gollmq.html

9. Lucas Neill - where is the CAAAAAAAAAAASH?