Melbourne Storm scandal: Latest updates

6.42pm
The Melbourne Storm players still consider themselves NRL champions and could ask the league to leave the record books alone, says former captain and club stalwart Robbie Kearns.

5.51pm
A former Melbourne Storm financial controller has issued a statement in which he has denied any involvement in the club's salary cap rort. Cameron Vale, now chief financial officer for the AFL's North Melbourne club, has also refuted suggestions that he was the one who informed the NRL of the deceit.

5.33pm
The Melbourne Storm will take the field against the Warriors this Sunday wearing blank jerseys.

The AAP reports that the logos of ME Bank and superannuation fund HOSTPLUS will not appear on the team kit after both sponsors abandoned the club today. Vehicle car manufacturer Suzuki and caravan provider Jayco have been upgraded to major sponsor status. Suzuki will meet with the Storm board next week.

Meanwhile Victoria state premier Mike Brumby has told AAP that the NRL's punishment was "harsh" and will affect crowd numbers at the Storm's home games.

4.00pm
Former Australian Rugby Union high performance manager Pat Wilson has been named as the acting CEO of the Melbourne Rebels, following the resignation of ex-Storm boss Brian Waldron.

3.07pm
In comments broadcasted by Newstalk ZB, former Australian test star Mark Geyer says the scandal could be the end of the Storm. He predicts that within a year a Central Coast team could be in the NRL with "many of the Melbourne Storm players in it."

2.48pm
Storm coach Bellamy apparently keeps his job as New South Wales State of Origin coach. "As far as the NSWRL is concerned, Craig Bellamy is the coach unless something that we can't anticipate happens," boss Geoff Carr tells Sky Sports radio.

2.39pm
Victoria Police say they have not received a complaint or a request to investigate the Melbourne Storm affair 'at this stage'.

2.34pm
Even the Australian PM has waded into the affair. Kevin Rudd tells the Seven Network the NRL's harsh punitive actions were justified in this case, noting the Storm's offending amounted to the "worst possible breach" of the rules.

2.10pm
Speaking at Auckland Airport as the Warriors board their flight to Melbourne to play the Storm on Sunday, Warriors coach Ivan Cleary says it all came as a "surprise and a big shock" to him.
The Warriors are "preparing as normal" for Sunday's match and "expect it to be tough", despite the distractions.

2.05pm
The New Zealand TAB say they will not be refunding bets placed on the Melbourne Storm to win the NRL, even if some agencies across the Tasman are doing so. Leading Australian bookmaker Centrebet said earlier they would refund all wagers made on the Storm.

1.40pm
Two sponsors have now pulled out of their support of the Melbourne Storm - ME Bank and clothing brand Skins.

1.20pm
David Gallop says the Melbourne Storm have until March 2011 to get under the Salary Cap. Otherwise they won't participate in 2011.

1.15pm
In explaining the decision regarding the Storm's 2010 competition points, Gallop says 'it is not fair that Melbourne finish ahead of any team in 2010 competition with playing talent they have assembled'.

1pm
A media conference is held outside Storm HQ. Storm chairman Rob Moodie says "players knew nothing of this." He adds that all the Storm players and staff will continue to be paid.

12.10pm
More is still to come out of the current crisis, warns Frank Endacott, former Kiwis and Warriors league coach.

11.30am
The CEO of the Melbourne Rebels Super 15 franchise, Brian Waldron, resigns. Waldron was CEO of the Storm for five years up until the end of 2009.

10.25am
Melbourne should be kicked out of the competition for their shameful demonstration of sheer arrogance, writes Greg Prichard in the Illawarra Mercury.

9.45
The Melbourne Storm scandal could severely damage Aussie league fans' pride and joy, the State of Origin, reports AAP. Several Storm players were certainties for Origin selection.


6pm Thursday night
National Rugby League (NRL) chief David Gallop reveals the scandal, saying investigators had discovered a 'dual bookkeeping system' to enable salary cap cheating.
The club is stripped of its two recent Premiership titles, its competition points for the 2010 season, and fined NZ$2m.