There is slow, as in the melting of the polar caps; there is slower, as in the gestation period of the Malaysian red-eyed sloth; there is very slow, as in the imperceptible discolouration of the Mona Lisa, and then there is agonisingly slow, as in the movement of documents across NRL desks with regard to punishment of player agents.

It is 20 months since five Parramatta officials were de-registered for their role in the $4m rort.

Sanctions: Nick Weeks and Todd Greenberg announce the punishment handed down to Parramatta for salary cap rorting in May, 2016. Credit:Ben Rushton

Briefs against 11 player managers in the Eels’ excess have been prepared, with some exceeding 400 pages, yet no action has been taken.

These cases have been supported by evidence obtained during the later investigation into salary cap rorting at Manly.