THE stark contrast between the NRL’s handling of salary cap breaches by Parramatta this year and Melbourne Storm in 2010 has forced a group of influential Storm supporters to pursue legal action against the league.

That will include seeking the reinstatement of two stripped premierships.

Former Storm director Peter Maher is part of a coterie seeking a “fair hearing” not afforded to the club in 2010 when it lost two titles and was forced to play for no competition points.

Former Storm director Peter Maher is frustrated at the different punishments. Source: News Limited

Round 19

Parramatta has been docked 12 points for salary cap rorting, and remain $540,000 over the salary cap this year. But unlike Storm in 2010, the Eels will be again allowed to play for points this season if they can get below the cap.

The Eels were given multiple chances to co-operate with the NRL’s thorough investigation, which resulted in a 70-page charge sheet, while Storm received a swift execution in 2010.

Melbourne’s penalties, which included a $1.7 million fine, were dished out the same day club officials were informed of the allegations against them, and the club was not given any opportunity to fully process them, or defend themselves.

Maher said that residual anger bubbled to the surface following the events of the past few days.

“I’m not in any way questioning the penalty against Parramatta, but the difference in the way these things were handed is so obvious,” Maher said.

“The NRL this time conducted a proper investigation. They didn’t sit down and determine a penalty before they did the investigation. We walked into a meeting and two hours later had lost everything.”

Cameron Smith and the Storm were stripped of two premierships and forced to play for no points in 2010. Picture: Getty Images Source: Supplied

The Storm group will meet again on Thursday for a strategy session to best determine the way forward in its looming battle with the NRL.

The group, which is operating separately to the current Storm administration, hopes to win back Storm’s two lost premierships although Maher said mostly they wanted their long-awaited day in court.

“The first thing we want to have occur is for the initial decision to be set aside, because the manner of which that decision was arrived at is certainly flawed,” Maher said.

“Then all we want from that point on is a proper hearing.

“There’s no doubt the ultimate goal would be to try and get both of those premierships back, but the most important thing now is just to make sure there is a proper process.”

Maher and the team have the backing of Storm founder John Ribot, who said he was sympathetic to their cause.

“I hope common sense prevails and they be given an opportunity,” Ribot said. “The directors and the supporters of Melbourne should have their moment in a court and be heard. And, from there, accept the referee’s decision.”