It's not a question of if the Eels will lose competition points but how many. The gavel is expected to fall next week. Stretched out: Eels players prepare for the round three match against the Canterbury Bulldogs Credit:Getty Images There's certainly a feeling, as well as much speculation, that the club can limit the damage if the board – especially chairman Steve Sharp and his deputy, Tom Issa – falls on its sword. Some tell you it will be a four-point deduction. Others say two. If they stand firm, it's been speculated, the Eels can expect a 10-point impost for this season. The NRL says none of this has been decided and figures are being pulled out of various backsides. Former Eels chief executive Scott Seward has been interviewed but the board has not.

Weeks is very un-rugby league: he's thorough and methodical and won't listen to those wanting a resolution to suit their timetable. He's been investigating the club for four months. He won't be pulling the trigger until the time is right. So complicated is the Eels' salary cap mess, it resembles a game of KerPlunk. If anything, though, there's a definite feeling within League Central that a change in governance at the Eels should only slightly help the embattled club's cause. Sins of the past are sins of the past. Can you imagine the embarrassment to the NRL if a side that's been found guilty of clandestinely dodging the cap reaches the finals or even wins the premiership? What confuses the matter at Parramatta are the hidden agendas that are bringing the issue to the fore. Factions upon factions are leaking to the media, with some former powerbrokers adopting a selfish, "If I can't have it, nobody can" approach. They are not rugby league fans. They aren't even Eels fans. They're fans of themselves.

Reporters are chasing down the story like it's Watergate. While the reporting is enlightening, one is telling others that he's bound to win a Walkley award because of his labours. For mine, the most damning story came last month when Fairfax Media revealed former Parramatta chief financial officer Ed Farish – who was once the director of finance at the NRL – had warned the club about the illegality of third-party payments to Anthony Watmough but they were ignored and the payment was made anyway. That alone suggests arrogance of the highest order. It highlights a desperate culture of doing whatever they want, at whatever cost. Unlike the Bulldogs, Storm and Warriors salary cap breaches of the past, when millions of undisclosed payments were made, Parramatta's issue isn't about money but how they did business. It's the alleged deceit that's at play here. Alleged deceit that helped them secure unfashionable players, some well past their prime, with third-party payments.

What did they win? A couple of wooden spoons. Scrutiny: Anthony Watmough. Credit:Getty Images Head office has had just about enough as long-suffering Eels fans. There appears little chance of the Parramatta board resigning, but the best result would be if they all stood aside and let NRL administrators take control, just as it did with the Titans following their salary cap issues. We're also told there's a cluster of Eels people, with strong business acumen and no link to any faction, ready to help out when they can.

The pain of what's about to come down looms as the watershed moment the club needs. This is Parramatta. Parra. The Eels. The club that produced a Scanlen's deck of superstars, from the Crow to Sterlo to Bert to Guru to the Bear to the Zip-Zip Man to … Their demise doesn't just hurt Parramatta. It hurts the game. If those in power are true Parra people, they will sack themselves. Lighten up, guys What has the world come to when Josh Reynolds can't give his adversary – and mate – Aidan Sezer a little bottom squeeze for encouragement at a scrum?

A typically reactive match review committee warned him for an "inappropriate act". Some called it a "Hoppa". Um, that wasn't a Hoppa. A Hoppa is … Actually, never mind. What isn't known is that Bulldogs players were laughing how a Canberra player had jokingly grabbed Reynolds in a similar way during the match at Belmore. Don't take life so seriously, rugby league – you'll never get out of it alive. Time to take the money

This column suggested earlier this week that a significant redevelopment of ANZ Stadium to make it a "brilliant rectangular stadium" would cost $1.5 billion. Granted, it was probably too much. ANZ officials were quick to point out the redesign would cost between $610 million to $670 million. That figure, quoted by ANZ Stadium's architects and engineers, is being scoffed at by those within the state government. There's a real danger the NRL and some self-interested clubs are about to thumb their nose at $1.6 billion in government funding. Premier Mike Baird returns from a trip to Israel on Monday. Time is ticking. Big decision for Sam

SPOTTED: Souths star Sam Burgess at Coogee café Barzura on Tuesday, locked in discussion with Foxtel heavyweights Brian Walsh and Jamie Campbell. Burgess is being wooed by several networks, although he's strongly tipped to sign with Foxtel in coming weeks. Rugby league stars are tripping over themselves to sign with whichever broadcaster has the biggest pile of cash, but I reckon it would be a balancing act for Big Sammy. He would be conscious about making the right decision ahead of money. Marquee attraction: Sam Burgess warms up during a South Sydney Rabbitohs training session at Redfern Oval. Credit:Matt King There's an unfair backlash against the Burgess clan for being overexposed – something they have no say in.

Yet Burgess comes from the north England where the game receives scant coverage compared to Sydney, and he could never understand when some would whinge about the media interest they receive. Now an elder statesman of the game, his voice and opinion would be worth listening to. Traffic jams There was much hand-wringing from ATC officials last Saturday when 22,000 attended the first day of The Championships at Royal Randwick. What more could a racegoer ask for? World class racing, a wonder horse called Winx, sunshine, Ronan Keating belting out his hit(s) in the Theatre of Divorce after the last …

The main problem, of course, is Sydney's diabolical traffic on a Saturday. Bring on light rail. It's expected to be ready for the spring carnival of 2018. In the meantime, come early, leave late. Cheering on Berry Wonder mare Winx might be missing from the second day of The Championships, but there won't be a dry eye in the house if Tommy Berry can win the medal struck in the honour of his late twin brother, Nathan. For the past two years, the Nathan Berry Medal has been awarded to the jockey who has the most success over the two days of the carnival at Royal Randwick.

It honours Nathan, who died two years ago to the day last Sunday from a rare form of epilepsy. Last Saturday, on day one, Tommy landed a booming treble: Clearly Innocent in the Country Championships; a massive boilover in the Australian Derby on outsider Tavago; and then a barnstorming finish on Chautauqua in the TJ Smith. Sentimental favourite: Tommy Berry rides Chautauqua to win the TJ Smith Stakes. Credit:bradleyphotos.com.au The next day, on the anniversary of his brother's death, he was in Hong Kong and won on the John Moore-trained sprinter Bad Boy. "It was tough leaving Sydney and the family at home, but I'm a jockey and I had a job to do, Designs On Rome is my man and I had to be on him for that lead-up run," Berry told the South China Morning Post after the win at Sha Tin. "I'll go visit Nath's memorial when I get off the plane and spend some time with mum and dad when I get back."

Berry shared the Nathan Berry Medal with James McDonald in its first year two years ago. He leads the race this year on nine points, four clear of Zac Purton and Hugh Bowman, but the 3-2-1 points allocation means anybody can with it with the final six races of The Championships on the line. This Saturday, Tommy's best chance is with David Hayes' superstar Criterion, who is defending his Queen Elizabeth Stakes win from last year and is a strong chance with Winx no longer entered. The rest of his book are roughies, so it could be the horse that delivers him his brother's medal. TOMMY BERRY'S CHAMPIONSHIP RIDES ON SATURDAY

Race 4. PERCY SYKES STAKES (1200m) – Spright - $51 Race 5 - ARROWFIELD 3YO SPRINT (1200m – Lake Geneva - $101 Race 6 - AUSTRALIAN OAKS (2400m)– Chabaud - $41 Race 7 - SYDNEY CUP (3200m) – Auvray - $31 Race 8 - THE COOLMORE LEGACY STAKES (1600m) – Supara - $21

Race 9 - QUEEN ELIZABETH STAKES (2000m)– Criterion - $6 Prices courtesy of Ladbrokes.com.au Ringtone says it all Those who have been listening to the long-running Big Sports Breakfast program on Sky Sports Radio will know of producer Mario Kolotas, who had a kidney transplant last year. Earlier this week, when your humble correspondent was filling in for regular host Michael Slater as he called the World Twenty20, Mario's phone buzzed during a commercial break.

His ringtone? Stayin' Alive by the Bee Gees. Editor calls time And finally, it will be the end of an era on Friday at the long-running monthly magazine Inside Sport when editor Graem​ Sims signs off. The great Simsy has been there for the best part of 25 years – the last 10 as editor – but will turn his experienced and skilful hand to freelancing. Alongside the late, great Greg Hunter, he didn't just create a ground-breaking publication but also fostered hundreds of writers who will forever be in his debt – especially this one.

Go well, mate. The Week THE QUOTE "And [Hugh] Bowman's riding Winx for luck." – So said Sky Racing's superb racecaller Darren Flindell as the field hit the turn in the Doncaster Mile. Bowman and Winx made their own luck, exploding through the pack to win. THUMBS UP

When I grow up, I want to be just like David Pocock. Most sportspeople bitch and moan when they're suspended. He cops a two-match ban for an ugly neck grab and declares on social media: "I am incredibly disappointed with my actions". And then, in many more words, explains how sorry he is. THUMBS DOWN If anything sums up the absurdity of the overuse of The Bunker, it came in the 77th minute of the Roosters-Warriors match when referee Matt Cecchin couldn't decide if a Shaun Johnson field goal had gone under the black dot. The ref was standing two metres away. Gibber. It's a big weekend for … Jason Day and Adam Scott, as they carry more expectation heaped on an Australian golfer to win the US Masters since Greg Norman. Sharkie insists one of them will be wearing a green jacket on Monday morning. And he knows everything. It's an even bigger weekend for … the Wanderers, who must beat Wellington and hope Brisbane lose to Melbourne Victory to claim the premiership in the final round of the A-League. Exciting stuff.