The past, present and, indeed, futures of the two clubs meeting in Saturday’s preliminary final –the Roosters and Storm – are inextricably linked to Ian Schubert, who returned to hospital this week as doctors fight to save his left foot from amputation.

Schubert was the flying winger/fullback whose spectacular runs from the backfield inspired a second consecutive premiership for the Roosters in 1975, and was also the NRL salary cap auditor whose investigation led to the Storm being stripped of the 2007 and 2009 premierships.

Ian Schubert (right) is back in hospital with an infection following surgery to save his left foot after a motorcycle accident. Credit:NSWRL

While his past is lauded at one club and perhaps loathed at another, he has an impact on the present. When Schubert left the NRL, Roosters supremo Nick Politis employed him as the club’s salary cap compliance officer. It sent a message to the NRL and all those who nickname the Roosters “the Sombreros”, due to the perception the cap fits much more under it at the Roosters than other clubs. Yet, when there was no major case of self-reporting a breach by Schubert, others simply argued he was suffering Stockholm Syndrome.

The NRL insist both Melbourne and the Roosters simply manage the salary cap better than other clubs. Still, should the Storm release centre Will Chambers a year early in order to comply with the 2020 cap, they will replace him with a youngster. The Roosters tend to buy internationals, like Cooper Cronk and James Tedesco, leading some to argue that Politis reloads, while the Storm rebuilds.