PARRAMATTA could lose superstar winger Semi Radradra to clear salary cap space in the wake of the club’s cap rorting scandal.

Injured backrower Anthony Watmough is the other player likely to leave the club, with the former Test and Origin star set to retire from the game due to a chronic knee injury.

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SEMI COULD LEAVE EELS

Round 19

Semi Radradra could leave Eels in the wake of the salary cap scandal. Source: Getty Images

With Parramatta needing to get under the salary cap for this season in order to play for competition points, players will need to make way.

Fox Sports’ chief NRL reporter, James Hooper, says Anthony Watmough and Semi Radradra could make way.

“The retirement of Anthony Watmough is being fast-tracked behind the scenes,” Hooper said on NRL Tonight.

“If he can leave the club effective immediately then that will most definitely free up some salary cap space.

“They need to be under $570,000 — that’s how far they are over the cap.

“Watmough’s on about $800,000. If he were to retire and the NRL can backdate his retirement to round one, all of a sudden that’s going to free some cash up.

“The other name I’m hearing, but I have not had it confirmed, is Semi Radradra.

“Semi remains upset at the fact that he’s owed some third-party money by the club that hasn’t been forthcoming. I have heard that he could potentially become another player that the Eels (can move on) with the club needing a quick fix.”

Former Parramatta star Eric Grothe Jnr joins Ben Ikin, Ben Glover and Nathan Ryan to discuss the Eels salary cap scandal and how they can fix their problems.

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‘YOU WILL BE FOUND OUT’

There is a concern within the game that the NRL can’t uncover salary cap rorting without a whistleblower.

NRL CEO Todd Greenberg addressed the issue on NRL 360 on Tuesday night.

“It is very difficult to find issues like this if people are purposely trying to hide them from you,” Greenberg said.

“All of those issues tell me and sends a strong message to every club, player, coach and manager that ultimately if you make poor decisions and you look to take shortcuts, in time, you’ll be found out. In time, someone will speak, something will come up and there are massive consequences for making those decisions. There needs to be strong deterrents.

“We didn’t want to do today. Today is a really difficult and sad day for the game.”

Greenberg said that if the Eels go on to win a title and more cap breaches are found, the NRL will retroactively strip it if need be.

“If they win a premiership and if we have to take it off them, the game has done that previously,” he said.

“I’m not suggesting that it’s foolproof, there’s part of the rules that as an accredited player, coach or official in the game, where you are duty-bound to tell the truth and to come forward if you see issues in your club. That’s part of our rules.”

STERLO: I FEEL ANGRY

Eels legend Peter Sterling has responded to the punishments handed down by the NRL following the Parramatta salary cap scandal.

“I’m feeling a lot of different emotions,” Sterling said on NRL Tonight. “I’m angry, disillusioned and disappointed, but there’s a little ray of sunshine there as well.

“(The punishment) is not as bad as what I’d thought it was going to be despite it being a pretty dark day.

“Obviously it was a very thorough investigation because they came to the decision and I think Todd Greenberg has been very strong. I love the fact that he went and spoke to the board and the players when he knew what kind of news he was going to deliver.

Sterling urged fans not to abandon the club.

“Stay solid,” he said. “We’ve seen some tough times at this club and the disappointment of this of course is the fact that the year has started so well and positively on the field.

“The positive to come out of today as a fan is the fact that the door is not closed for success at the end of this season.”

EX-STORM BOSS: NRL NEEDS CONSISTENCY

Former Storm CEO Ron Gauci believes the NRL needs consistency when it comes to penalties for salary cap breaches.

Talking toFairfax Mediaon Tuesday, Gauci, who became the Melbourne boss following the 2010 salary cap scandal, reckons the game’s governing body needs “a base set of penalties” moving forward.

“We have had three significant breaches [at different clubs] and all have resulted in different penalties with the most severe being the Storm losing two premierships,” Gauci said.

“They need to create a precedent, a base set of penalties with an eye to future situations.”

‘STUPID BOARD SHOULD BE SACKED’

Eels legend Brett Kenny says the Parramatta board should be sacked in the wake salary cap rorting.

“It was very disappointing,” Kenny said on The Back Page. “I’m more so disappointed in the board that did this.

“To hear in the last six years they’ve done it five times, they should be sacked for being so stupid.

“You feel sorry for the players and the Parramatta fans, they’ve done nothing to cause this.”



DRUG ISSUE IS DAMAGING

Former NRL coach Ivan Cleary says the NRL has a real issue on their hands when it comes to players abusing prescription medication.

His comments come after Warriors winger Manu Vatuvei was granted leave on medical grounds in the wake of the ugly situation in which five players from the club are accused of mixing prescribed drugs and energy drinks.

“Over the last couple of years it’s something I’ve been privy to seeing,” Clearly said on NRL Tonight.

“It’s not just a rugby league issue, but it’s definitely a problem.

“It hides under the banner of prescribed drugs — it seems like its okay, but this stuff is really dangerous. From my experience, it has highly addictive qualities.

“It’s something we have to look into and get sorted because it’s damaging people and families.”

CRONK WON’T GIVE UP REP FOOTY

Storm, Queensland and Australia player Cooper Cronk says he won’t be walking away from representative football anytime soon.

The 32-year-old is in camp with the Kangaroos ahead of Friday night’s Test match against New Zealand.

“I just want to cherish every moment I can,” Cronk told Channel Seven.

“I’m not sure how long I have, but I dare say I’m going to have to get tapped on the shoulder as opposed to saying that I’m going to walk away.

“Every time I’m apart of a rep team, it just brings you back to being a kid and I’m not throwing that away, to be honest.”

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