While directors have moved to placate the NRL, there is no guarantee the blue and golds will escape sanction for governance failings. As revealed by Fairfax Media, head office is investigating whether the Eels properly disclosed third-party deals to star players Anthony Watmough and Jarryd Hayne by a company directly related to the club. Should the governing body find evidence that officials were aware of potential conflicts of interest and didn't disclose them, it would be a breach of the code of conduct all administrators sign. The result could be sackings or other sanctions, such as fines or the deduction of competition points.

Scrutiny: A third-party deal for Jarryd Hayne is being investigated. Credit:Renee McKay

Upon being elected into office, chairman Steve Sharp's board attempted to introduce a number of special resolutions at a Leagues Club annual general meeting in 2014. They included the appointment of an "independent" director – in that instance businessman Bill Moss – and a motion to extend the tenure of future boards from two to three years. Those motions fell well short of the 75 per cent vote required to be implemented.

Ironically, Sharp's board has been pushing back on some of those very reforms the NRL is now attempting to impose. In particular, there has been opposition to implementing a triennial system to elect club directors and to effectively splitting the Parramatta Leagues Club and Parramatta National Rugby League Club boards – which currently mirror each other – by having a requirement for two independents on the PNRL board.

The Eels, though, appeared to have reached a consensus with the NRL three weeks ago when a delegation, including Sharp, directors Andrew Cordwell and Peter Serrao, and club lawyer John de Mestre, met with NRL officials, and left League Central agreeing in principle to comply.