A NEW twist has developed in the Parramatta salary cap scandal, after it was revealed by The Daily Telegraph that Anthony Watmough is still being paid by the Eels.

The former Origin star hasn’t made it onto the field all season after a debilitating knee injury forced him into retirement but NRL 360 co-host Paul Kent said the way Watmough’s medical retirement has played out “doesn’t smell right”.

After following up the Telegraph report with the NRL, Kent found several inconsistencies that have raised suspicion, with the timing of the NRL’s decision to allow Watmough’s $700,000-a-year salary to be wiped from the cap not making sense.

Stream every game of Round 24 LIVE on FOX SPORTS with a FREE 2-week FOXTEL PLAY trial. SIGN UP NOW!

Round 20

Kent revealed that despite the fact the Eels are still paying Watmough his full salary, with the insurer yet to decide whether or not to cover the club’s loss, the second-rower’s salary no longer counts on the cap because the NRL ruled it was a chronic injury that ended his career.

“I’m concerned about this because it just doesn’t smell right,” Kent said on NRL 360.

“The NRL put out and we were led to believe that Parramatta weren’t going to start playing for points until they were salary cap compliant.

Anthony Watmough hasn’t taken the field for the Eels in 2016. Source: News Corp Australia

“That was the big thing from Todd Greenberg. We were under the illusion that Anthony Watmough had been medically retired, paid out his contract money and was no longer on the cap.

“We find out today he still is (getting paid by the Eels), so I rang the NRL and I said, how does this work?

“Their justification for it is essentially as long as you are medically retired you are no longer considered part of the cap.”

It’s not just the misinformation that raises concerns for Kent, with the NRL making a decision on Watmough in what, on the surface at least, appeared to be just a couple of weeks.

Most players who apply for medical retirement are left in limbo for months and months.

“Now the interesting part of this is, for most clubs when they are trying to get a player medically retired it takes months to happen,” Kent said.

Raiders CEO Don Furner joins Ben Ikin, Nathan Ryan and Ben Glover to reveal how the club have built their winning roster, recruitment strategies and the success of their Englishmen.

You can also subscribe via iTunes or for Android users, listen on the iPP Podcast Player app.

“Parramatta got it done in a matter of a couple of weeks. I asked why that was the case. I was told Parramatta had actually begun the paperwork months before Watmough actually did retire.

“That, I found a bit interesting, because in February when news broke that he was about to retire he came out and strongly denied it.

“In April he came out again and said he was looking forward to returning.

“I’m led to believe from the NRL that even though Watmough was insisting he was going to return to play, Parramatta had already by that stage begun the paperwork, which was why it was enabled to happen so quickly.

“They’d made their decision without him or he was lying to the press. He didn’t want to reveal the truth to the press.”

Either way, it’s a story we haven’t heard the last of just yet.

Catch all the latest NRL news in Media Watch!

GREENBERG’S FORAN DECLARATION

NRL boss Todd Greenberg has had his say on speculation that Kieran Foran is targeting a return to the NRL with the Warriors next season, warning that it won’t be as easy as just signing a contract.

Foran’s off-field issues this season have been widely reported and Greenberg confirmed that some of the reports will need to be closely inspected by the NRL’s integrity unit before Foran’s next contract can be registered.

Asked specifically about Foran’s relationship with former brothel owner Eddie Hayson, Greenberg replied: “There will certainly be some questions that the Integrity Unit will need to pose to Kieran but that’s much further down the track, I’m much more focused on making sure Kieran gets himself well.”

In an interview with Fox Sports chief NRL reporter James Hooper for NRL Tonight, Greenberg said “people are getting slightly ahead of themselves” just talking about Foran playing football again.



“I mean the most important thing for Kieran is his health and welfare and that’s all our concern is at the moment,” Greenberg said.

“His footballing future will take care of itself on a very different path and there’ll be issues for the Integrity Unit to deal with as and when that’s required but my focus at the moment is making sure Kieran becomes a good person and gets himself well.”

STERLO: NRL’S POORER WITHOUT FOZ

Foran’s departure from the Eels touched a nerve with Parramatta legend Peter Sterling because he rates him so highly as a player and a person and was hoping he’d be the man to deliver the club its next premiership.

However, speaking on the Triple M Rush Hour, Sterling revealed he wouldn’t be bitter if Foran signed with the Warriors for next season, saying “our game is poorer for his absence.”

“I’m okay if that means that Kieran is going to be in a good place, more so off the field than on. I love Kieran,” Sterling said.

“I suppose the amazing thing for me is if you’d said at the beginning of the year that Parramatta were going to have all sorts of problems and some of their individuals might have some concerns, I would have said — well, not Kieran — that’s how much it was masked.

“There’s a multitude of different issues that he obviously has.

“If he can get all that sorted out and get his life back on track, then I’m happy to see him back in the NRL and if it means going to the Warriors then good luck to him.”

TEDDY COULD RETURN FOR FINALS

James Tedesco has had surgery to repair a broken jaw that appeared likely to end the Wests Tigers star’s season but the fullback’s teammates are remaining hopeful that he might return if they can get the side into the top eight.

Speaking on NRL Tonight, Tigers veteran Dene Halatau said a possible return had been discussed within the club.

“I haven’t spoken to Teddy myself, I haven’t asked the physio about the outcome of the physio but I’m hearing that’s the case, that he’s a chance if we do go into the finals,” Halatau said.

“Teddy being the guy he is, he’s very resilient and he works hard on his injuries so he’ll do his best to get back on the field and hopefully that is in the semi-finals.”

ROBERTS TO GO ON BOOZE BAN

The uncle and manager of star Brisbane centre James Roberts has revealed the troubled youngster has put himself on a booze ban, at least in the short term, after reports emerged that he had been restrained by security after abusing a female bartender at a popular Brisbane night spot on Sunday.

The allegations were revealed on Wednesday, with Roberts caught up in another alcohol related controversy after being sacked by the Rabbitohs and Panthers for off-field indiscretions earlier in his career.

Roberts is yet to speak publicly about the incident, which is being investigated by the NRL integrity unit, but his uncle Jeremy Donovan was quoted by Fairfax Media confirming he has vowed to stop drinking alcohol.

“That’s what he wants to do,” Donovon was quoted.

“James is in agreeance that he is happy to have the support of [Broncos CEO] Paul White and Wayne Bennett on whatever steps are needed to go forward. He will come up with that plan alongside Paul and Wayne.

“They are probably the two best positioned blokes in the game to help young men turn their life around and become the sort of role model we know James can be.

“There’s no question the Broncos want to address everything to let James became the best person he can. James is the first to put his hand up and say that’s what he wants as well.”

Download the new FOX SPORTS App to get the latest news and scores from your NRL team.